Adam Lallana is said to miss the beginning of the new season after suffering a knee injury in training, the club has confirmed.

The attacking midfielder maintained an injury to his lateral collateral ligament during a session at the Reds' Harvard University training base in Boston. He moved to Anfield from Southampton earlier this month after returning from this summer's FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Having been evaluated by Liverpool's medical staff it has been decided that the 26-year-old does not require surgery, but injuries of this nature can result in a spell of anywhere up to six weeks on the sidelines.

The England international's progress will be monitored by the club's medical team in the United States and on his return to Liverpool.

Lallana is regarded as one of England's brightest Barclays Premier League talents after establishing himself as a key member of the Southampton first team.

He came through the youth ranks at Bournemouth and then at Southampton before making his first-team debut for the Saints in 2006 and helped them win back-to-back promotions to reach the Barclays Premier League in 2012. The Southampton captain made his Barclays Premier League debut in the defeat by Manchester City in August 2012 and he went on to make 68 top-flight appearances, scoring 12 goals.

He featured in all 38 matches last season as Southampton claimed an impressive eighth-place finish.

Lallana is one of two Southampton players to move to Anfield this summer, following the transfer of Rickie Lambert, but his injury means he will miss the opportunity to face his former club in Liverpool's opening match of the 2014/15 season on 17 August. The Merseysiders will continue their US Tour with an appearance against Olympiacos at Chicago on Sunday in the Guinness International Champions Cup.

His BPL Stats:

2012/13 - 30 appearances, 3 goals, 36 shots, 5 assists.

2013/14 - 38 appearances, 9 goals, 50 shots, 6 assists.

(Source: Barclay's Premier League official website)