Birthday Boys – Richarlison and Adam Lallana

In today’s edition of Birthday Boys, we take a look at Everton’s forward Richarlison and Liverpool’s experienced midfielder Adam Lallana.

Richarlison

Photo: Premier League

The forward turns 23 today.

The Brazillian frontman started his career in 2015 after signing his first professional contract for America-MG at the age of 17.

After a fantastic campaign, where the teenager has scored nine times and assisted a further four times for the Brazillian Serie B club, it was time to move to the first division of Brazilian football. Flumeniese snapped up the youngster for £2 million in January 2016.

Four goals and one assist followed in the brief spell that Richarlison had to play of the 15/16 season. This saw the forward used less in the starting 11 in the 16/17 season as he featured 18 times in all competitions scoring seven goals and assisiting six times. It was clear to see that Richarlison was destined for greater things as he took his chances well in the limited amount of game time he was given that season.

In August 2017, Watford signed the forward for £11 million as they looked to stay in the Premier League. 41 appearances for the Hornets, scoring five goals and five assists in all competitions showed that Richarlison needed to adapt to Premier League life in order to fire on all cylinders.

New Everton manager and ex-Watford manager Marco Silva lured back his Brazillian talisman to join the Toffees for a huge fee of £35 million.

70 games in for Richarlison at Everton and he has been a key player in Everton’s strikeforce. 26 goals and six assists in two seasons is a good return for the Brazillian forward.

On the international stage, Richarlison has a trophy after securing the Copa America with the national team. He’s played 19 times for the Brazillian national team scoring six goals and is bound to make many more appearances for his national team in the future.

Adam Lallana

Credit: Liverpool FC

Liverpool’s forgotten man turns 32 today and has had a decent career so far.

The midfielder signed his professional contract for his boyhood Southampton in July 2006 at the age of 18. He only made two appearances for the Sainst in the 06/07 season contributing to no goals in the process.

2007/2008 season saw Lallana shipped out to at the time League One club AFC Bournemouth where he would make three appearances for the Cherries. He returned in November 2007 after the month loan finished at the Bournemouth.

On his reurn back to Southampton, for the remainder of the season, Lallana made five first-team appearances for the Saints. The following season, Lallana was able to commit and step up to first team action making 43 appearances across all competitions scoring twice and assisting on five ocassions.

The 09/10 season would see Southampton in League One with Lallana playing a vital part in their campaign thats season. 50 appearances in the season consisted of Lallana scoring 15 goals and creating five assists from midfield in an impressive season for the team and for the midfielder.

Another season in League One followed with Lallana performing incredibly yet again with performances which would enable Southampton to get back into the Championship. 11 goals and 13 assists in 41 games propelled Saints up to the second flight of English football whilst cementing Lallana as one of their key players.

The 2011/12 season saw the Saints get promoted into the Premier League. Lallana’s form would not drop in 46 games as the Englishman would score 13 times and assist 11 goals in the process, impressively reaching double figures in goals and assists for a second year running.

The first Premier League season was tough for Lallana and the Saints, but they would survive and stay up with Lallana making 30 appearances that season scoring three goals and assiting six times. The 13/14 season was better for Lallana and Southampton with the midfielder reaching double digits in goals scoring ten times in 42 games and assisting 8 times.

Lallana’s Southampton career finished in July 2014 as Liverpool moved for the midfielder and were able to lure the player away from Southampton for £28 million. Lallana is still currently playing at Liverpool and has made over 170 appearances for the Reds. He’s not been playing a lot of games recently due to Jurgen Klopp bringing in midfielders like Fabinho, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain which has limited his game time.

Lallana has had the privilege to participate in the 2014 World Cup and in Euro 2016 for England. He’s won trophies such as the Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Supercup with Liverpool and he’s won the EFL Trophy with Southampton back in the 09/10 season.