Liverpool hero Jan Molby has hailed the form of Adam Lallana this season.

Lallana has thrived this season as part of a three-man midfield and the £25m playmaker saw his fine form rewarded with the club's Player of the Month gong for December.

"Of all the midfield players we have, Adam Lallana is definitely different," Molby told the club's official website.

"He has, without any shadow of a doubt, turned out to be the key midfield player.

"What Adam Lallana is, and maybe some people won't see this, is he's a playmaker.

"He's not a playmaker who sits back and dictates play; he's a bit like Iniesta, he's that 15 yards further forward where he dictates the direction and the tempo of the play.

"He's been very impressive, he's been very, very important – so important that I make him our key player."