Adam Lallana is expected to play a big part when Albion visit his old club.

But it is not clear exactly in which role that might be.

The former Southampton star is up and running in terms of goals for the Seagulls.

He opened the scoring against Leicester last Saturday after combining well with Neal Maupay.

The two established a good rapport, Lallana enjoying his No.10 role.

But he has also played further back this season, alongside Yves Bissouma.

Head coach Graham Potter was keen not to give too much away before heading to St Mary’s.

Potter said “He’s got that quality in any position he plays.

“He can play deeper, he can play more centrally higher up, he has got that quality.

“It’s just how we use him game-to-game.

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“Sometimes the physical demand higher up the pitch means we can’t expose him too much.

“But still, wherever he plays he has got fantastic ability and he helps the team.”

Lallana expressed himself on and off the pitch in the Leicester game.

He accused Albion of thinking they had the match won having dominated the first half.

Potter did not agree with that version of events.

He said: “I didn’t get a sense of that at all.

“It’s 1-0 in the Premier League with 45 minutes to go against a team with the best away record in the Premier League.

“It’s not like we are sat there 4-0 up.

“I did not get that sense.

“Sometimes the opposition improves and there was not that feeling, no.”

Lallana scored 60 goals in league and cup for Saints.

He played against them six times in the league and in three League Cup ties for Liverpool without finding the net.

There were three wins for Liverpool at St Mary’s among those games.

Southampton come into the game off a 5-2 midweek defeat at Manchester City.

But they caused the runaway leaders some problems in the first half, drawing level at 1-1, before hitting self-destruct at the back.

Saints pressed high up and Potter expects more of that tomorrow.

He said: “It will be fair to say it will be one of the most intense games of the season.

“They have a clear identity of how they want to play and I am really respectful of what they have achieved there.

“They have had a bad run in terms of results.

“They had a win against Sheffield United that gets them back up and running.

“When we played them before, the moment we caught them in they were as good as anyone in the league.

“They were really strong and you don’t lose that quality.

“Sometimes the results can affect you but you saw against Manchester City how well they can play.

“They’ve got a real clarity and understanding of what they want to do.

“It will be a tough game, absolutely.”