The Reds have lost three of their opening five Premier League games this season but, ahead of the Merseyside derby, the new signing is confident of a return to form

Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana is confident that his side will improve their form and end their “tough spell”, starting against rivals Everton on Saturday.

Brendan Rodgers’s men, runners-up in the Premier League last season, have lost three of their opening five games this term to leave them 11th in the table.

But Lallana, one of seven summer arrivals, has faith in his new manager and the new signings gelling as they look to turn the corner at Anfield.

“Not for one minute did I think it would be easy coming to join such a big club,” Lallana told The Guardian.

“You have to work twice as hard. It’s going to take a bit of adjusting with new players but I am 100 per cent confident we will be better for it.

“We have got an excellent manager and a good, grounded group of lads. We have had a bit of a tough spell but that brings everyone together.

He added: “There have been references to getting back to last season’s form. That is what is expected of us. There’s been a lot of changes but we don’t want to keep making excuses. It’s not right.

“We know what standard is required and we feel that we might have dropped off that a little bit but we are hungry and determined to get back to where we were.

“There is a difference when you pull on that Liverpool shirt to playing for Southampton or any other different team, but it is a great feeling as well.

“Just playing for such a big club as Liverpool brings a greater expectation. You go into games with a different mentality, you are expected to win a lot more games, teams come to you and camp themselves behind the ball. There are different challenges.

“The best way to overcome the expectation and pressure is to just try and enjoy your football. You play your best football when you play with a smile.”

Ahead of his first Merseyside clash, Lallana admits that he was an Everton fan as a youngster but stresses his link with the club has faded over the years.

He explains: “My dad used to support Everton in the Gary Lineker days when they were doing well, so that’s the reason I started following them.

“I would always look for their result but, playing for Southampton for so many years, it faded. Everton always seemed to be fighting relegation when I was supporting them. There were a lot of tears.”