There was no stopping Liverpool on Tuesday night in their bid to banish the doubters and reinforce their Champions League credentials. Maribor were hardly the most intimidating of opponents for Jurgen Klopp’s rampant outfit, but the Slovenian side had kept five clean sheets in six home league matches this season prior to the welcome of their Premier League counterparts. That mattered little to Liverpool, who romped to a 7-0 win over their Group E opponents.
After a period where Klopp’s team drew criticism for a failure to break teams down, coupled with an inability to shut out opponents, the resounding victory was just the response required to silence the naysayers. What’s more is that Liverpool secured the three points, despite changes to key personnel in Jordan Henderson, Joe Gomez and Simon Mignolet.
Furthermore, Klopp continues to be bound by injuries to Nathaniel Clyne, Sadio Mane and Adam Lallana. While Liverpool continue to struggle at the back after failing to land Virgil van Dijk, their midfield and attack is one of the strongest in the Premier League and will be that much more effective as and when Mane and Lallana return to fitness. The latter is yet to feature for the Reds this season having sustained a thigh strain in pre-season.
However, Klopp earlier this week confirmed that Lallana is closing in on a return to fitness. “Maybe after the international break he could be back. It would be fantastic for us of course. Everybody knows what kind of a quality player he is.” The England international’s recovery would be a huge boost for a club that is battling on a number of fronts this season. When Klopp was appointed a little over two years ago, many felt Lallana’s time at Anfield would come to an end sooner rather than later. Conversely, though, the 29-year-old is a crucial member of the German’s first choice XI.
The #LFC midfielder is back at Melwood to take the next step in his rehab:
In his favoured 4-3-3 formation, competition is rife for a midfield spot, with Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Emre Can all vying for a starting place in the middle of the park. That’ll only increase once Lallana returns, not to mention the arrival of Naby Keita next summer. However, with Emre Can yet to extend his current deal at Anfield, competition should ease, but even so, Klopp is not devoid of options in midfield.
Lallana provides the ideal link between midfield and attack, with his ability to drive the ball forward from deeper offering another dimension for the Liverpool offensive in the final third. With the onus on the front three to drift across the pitch and open up space for one another, those pressing forward from deep can maximise the constant movement of the forward line, with Lallana more than capable of exploiting areas inadvertently left deserted by opponents in a bid to track the Reds’ fluid front three.
Indeed, since Klopp took charge of Liverpool, Lallana has made the fourth most key passes (89) and completed the fourth most dribbles (67). His ability to charge forward with the ball puts opponents on the backfoot and allows for Liverpool to apply ample pressure on defences. While their attack has been lacklustre in front of goal on occasion this season, Liverpool are a team that can put any opponent to the sword on their day, as Maribor found out on Tuesday night.
Lallana’s return to first-team action couldn’t be better timed either as we near the hectic festive period that often makes or breaks a teams’ season. If there was an issue that Liverpool could stagnate, Lallana has the attacking means to rejuvenate the side and really get their campaign on track. While his absence hasn’t been felt too much this season, with Wijnaldum in particular enjoying a fine season so far having been handed the chance to push forward on a whim to support the attack, the Englishman’s availability affords Klopp another midfield option and one who calls upon his tenacity and graft to great effect, be it attacking or defending.
Since Klopp’s appointment, Liverpool are yet to win a piece of silverware, despite progressing to the League Cup and Europa League finals in 2016. The German alone has lost his last five cup finals, but Lallana’s return could give the Reds the required injection needed to end their wait for a trophy.
