LIVERPOOL MANAGER JURGEN Klopp insisted Adam Lallana was still a key player for the Premier League club despite the midfielder’s struggles with injury this season.
Lallana, 29, has made just 10 appearances in all competitions this campaign due to a thigh injury.
The England international last started for Liverpool in the 2-1 FA Cup win over Everton at the beginning of the year.
Speaking ahead of his side’s Champions League second leg against Porto in a last-16 tie they lead 5-0, Klopp said Lallana still had a big part to play in his team.
“Adam, absolutely, was an integral part of the team and with the competition we have for Adam it is still usually not a problem for him, because he is important to us,” he said.
“But he needed only time. Life is to learn from your mistakes and we all have to learn.
“We made this mistake – he looked fit. 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.
“But of course he now has no rhythm, which is another thing. We still need him, we will use him still.”
Even without Lallana, Liverpool sit third in the Premier League and are on track to reach the last eight in the Champions League.
Klopp is unsure if the midfielder will face Porto, but said Lallana would eventually get his chance.
“He is cool, he sees the quality of the team is good, but he is always one of the guys who pushes the level in training onto the next level, because he is always so intense in all the things he is doing,” he said.
“So the time will come for him 100 per cent. Whether it is tomorrow [Tuesday], I don’t know.”
He announced this week’s ago. Also ye are reporting today that McTominnay has declared for Scotland. That was announced last week.
I downloaded the app for up to date news, not old news I’d already heard.
@Trev Gilmore: to be fair McTominay was not called up today. But yeah, the Carrick news is old
@Dave O Keeffe: *was only called up today
@Trev Gilmore: no, he didn’t. Jose did.
Underused by England and underrated by clueless fans. A top class midfielder.
@The Bloody Nine: Agree 100% (Liverpool fan here)
@Keith Synnott: me too.
A Rolls Royce of a player.
So long Michael………it was a pleasure to watch you.
@David Sinclair: only comes out for the weddings is it?!
If I recall correctly, in LVG’S first season, Carrick was out injured in the early part of the season and United were struggling by mid November. Carrick came back from injury to help steady the ship and I think they won 8 and drew 2 of the next 10 games. He would have been 32/33 back then but he was still able to show what a good player he was to help turn United’s fortunes around. He was always unappreciated by the (non United) fans and pundits in Ireland like Giles and Dunphy, particularly on Champions League nights, because he had taken the place, and the jersey, of Roy Keane. Very underrated player, still capable of doing a job if required before he retires at end of season.
@Sloop John G: Always liked Carrick as a player Sloop John, don’t support any club he played for but he was the ultimate pro, and he played in teams where box box and scoring midfielders took the plaudits, Carrick doh knitted it all together held up play left players get into position and played the pass, sounds easy but he made it look easy not a bad medal haul either, will be missed by many football fans.
His watch is nearly ended. He did a fantastic job for the club,no messing,just got on with the job.
And he just learned to pass the ball forward. A legend though with a nice family life
A fine player who hardly ever put in a poor performance, unappreciated because he was seen as Keane’s replacement which he wasn’t and could never be.
@Eamonn Ó Maoldomhnaigh: That’s a good one Eamonn, now why didn’t I think of that :-)