Lallana enjoying life under Pochettino

Adam Lallana has backed Southampton’s new manager Mauricio Pochettino to produce the goods at the club.

The Saints have drawn two of their past three Premier League games and suffered a narrow defeat to Manchester United after a performance that prompted Sir Alex Ferguson to declare that the relegation-battling side were the best visiting team he had seen at Old Trafford all season.

Southampton are looking for their first win under Pochettino this weekend against Manchester City at St Mary’s, where a win for the home team could put the title race to bed, according to Lallana.

When asked if the quest for the title could be over if Southampton win, Lallana told reporters: “Yes – if we beat them and United win it’ll be 12 points (between them). But I’m not really looking at that end of the table, I’m concentrating on the other end.

“He (Pochettino) definitely wants us to press and win the ball back higher up the pitch. He wants us to keep high up as a team and just play imaginative football.

“He wants the front people to be the creators and have full-backs bombing on. It’s a good way to play and the lads are enjoying it. He’s getting the tactics across to us and I’m sure we’re not far off our first win.

“It’s just up to us to turn these good quotes and performances into points. We want to be in the Premier League next season, that’s the goal.”