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Despite being only 20 years of age, there was always going to be pressure on Lazar Markovic to make an immediate impact at Anfield. Perhaps not to run out for the first time in a Liverpool shirt and dominate, but to at least show flashes of the player he had been at Benfica to justify the £20M fee paid for him over the summer.
Most accepted that, for the most part, he was a name for the future. But given that fee and his success in Portugal, most also expected to see a little more than they so far have following his move to England, where so far his touch has been notably heavy and he has looked a step off the pace despite having arrived with a speedster reputation.
"You know how things go in football," he said when asked about his struggles so far to reproduce his Benfica form for Liverpool. "I’m getting there and adjusting well. It will take a little more time but, all in all, I feel okay. I feel great there and everybody has been great with me. I could not wish for more. I’m happy and that is the most important thing."
The results may not be there so far for Markovic, but it's important to remember that, as with Adam Lallana, the youngster suffered a pre-season injury that will have set back his acclimatisation. Lallana may have impressed almost immediately once he returned to action, but he is a player with league experience who played in a similar system last season.
In Markovic's case, not only is he six years younger, but he's also arriving from another league, and from a club he played a much more direct role for than he has so far been able to for a Liverpool side that most opponents are sitting deep against after last season. Hopefully, then, as the player believes, it's only a matter of time.
"My team-mate is the legendary Steven Gerrard," he added, "the fans love me, and Anfield is great. But, as I said, I just need a little bit more time."
