MX23RW : Monday, December 23 17:55:54| >> :60:387:387:

Jurgen Klopp: 'Adam Lallana is integral to Liverpool'

Liverpool manager Adam Lallana talks up midfielder Adam Lallana's importance in the team following a long-term injury.

Liverpool manager Adam Lallana has talked up midfielder Adam Lallana's importance in the team following a long-term injury.

Lallana was ruled out before the season began with a hamstring issue, and returned only for the problem to worsen, with the England international now being eased back into the Reds' first-team fold.

Klopp, whose side face Porto in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, admitted that the club made a mistake with their approach to Lallana's initial recovery.

"Adam, absolutely was an integral part of the team," the manager told reporters. "And even with the competition we have, for Adam it is still usually not a problem for him, because he is important to us.

"They are all desperate to play, to be honest. But he needed time. Life is to learn from your mistakes. We made this mistake – he looked fit [but wasn't].

"Maybe two little setbacks, not the biggest setbacks, but in and out, in and out, and that makes no sense. So now we have to build with him. He is coming close though. Of course he now has no rhythm, which is another thing. But we still need him, we will use him."

Liverpool have a 5-0 advantage in the last-16 tie after an impressive performance in Portugal.

ID:320206: cacheID:320206:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2259:
Written by
Jonny Whitfield
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Alberto Moreno in action during the Premier League game between Liverpool and Arsenal on August 27, 2017
Read Next:
Moreno 'to replace Robertson against Porto'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool16123137162139
2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!