Emre Can equalised from the resultant free-kick but although Liverpool enjoyed most of the possession for the rest of the game, the Russians held on for the draw despite playing with a man short for 50 minutes.
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If one were to write a list of players who have shown immediate improvement under new manager Jürgen Klopp, Adam Lallana would be one of the first names on paper.
“We are a compact team and we know Southampton are a hard team to beat”.
“It is important to get more stable but I saw the pressure on the players when they missed a chance”, he said. “Now we have to shoot”… we have to decide better [when it comes to] shooting, passing.
“We have to make better decisions in the box”.
The Saints boss has been monitoring the progress of the key quartet all week as they have made good progress from their respective injury issues and have been involved in training.
“The guys tried what they did and we got this very nice goal, but of course we could defend better”.
“On whether he would be fit for the game with Southampton, he added: “If he can train tomorrow completely normal, then he’s an option”.
“I am still cool with the situation”.
“We have another treatment with him today, another screening because there’s a bit of fluid inside – not much but a little – but it’s day by day”.
He has started just three league games since joining the club in the summer from Liverpool.
“There’s lots of hard work and lots of yards to put in to get to where we want to be”.
Klopp can see comparisons with his first season at Borussia Dortmund in 2007-08, when his side drew 14 out of their 34 Bundesliga matches. “I’m looking forward to meeting up with a few old friends, but Sunday is about getting the business done and ensuring we get the three points”, he said.
“We always had Christmas together with the families in Barcelona at that time”.
Lallana has started both games under Klopp so far and is expected to do the same against his former side at Anfield on Sunday.
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“I had six years with Johan Cruyff not only as a player and coach but as friends”.
