Klopp: Liverpool need Lallana ahead of busy period

Adam Lallana is closing in on a return to action for Liverpool and it will come at an important time, with Jurgen Klopp adamant they need him over the hectic Christmas period.

The England international has played just one minute of senior football this season, appearing as a late substitute against Chelsea in November.

Lallana has had to contend with a persistent thigh problem and, although he has been in training for over a month, he is still a little off the pace.

But Klopp predicts an important role for the 29-year-old in the coming weeks, with the Reds facing the prospect of seven matches inside the next month.

“Adam is back training completely normally,” Klopp told reporters ahead of Wednesday’s visit of West Brom.

“We need him for the next few weeks.”

The latest on Adam Lallana’s fitness: https://t.co/ZI18BT8IfE pic.twitter.com/0OPIcX0QPZ

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 12, 2017

“But, of course, he needs to build up [match fitness] again. That’s how it is.

“But he is good. He trains completely normally. We have to see what we do with him because we need him for the next few weeks, 100 per cent.

“We should not need him for tomorrow [Wednesday] but then, step by step, we need to see how we can bring him into shape. That’s it. We have to see, but he is in a good way.”

Alberto Moreno still looks set to be out for another few weeks due to an ankle problem, with Klopp revealing the club have sought a second opinion on his injury.

“He’s not ready [for West Brom], that’s for sure,” Klopp said.

Klopp on Moreno: “He’s not ready, for certain. We send him to different doctors to know a little bit more but it’s possible it’s not that long. It’s not decided.” pic.twitter.com/aROI7bSZPT

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 12, 2017

“We’ve sent him to different doctors just to be sure. It’s possible he’s not out that long, but we’ve not decided so far. We have to see.”