It was the defining image from the first match of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool reign.

Some 81 minutes were on the clock at White Hart Lane when the No 20 went up on the board.

A shattered Adam Lallana made his way to the touchline and fell into his manager’s waiting arms.

The England international epitomised what Klopp demanded from his players that day as he shut down space and ran himself into the ground.

Lallana instantly commanded Klopp’s respect, not only for his work rate and commitment but also for his football brain.

Over the past two years Klopp has proved adept at improving and developing the talent he inherited and Lallana is arguably the finest example of that.

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He looked lost at times during a turbulent first year at Liverpool under Brendan Rodgers following his £25million move from Southampton in 2014, but Klopp lifted that pressure from his shoulders and got the best out of him.

“One of the most pleasant surprises,” was how Klopp described Lallana when reflecting on his first season in charge.

Last term was the 29-year-old’s finest for the Reds and he was deservedly rewarded with a new contract. Shifting him into an advanced central midfield role proved a masterstroke as he chipped in with eight goals and seven assists.

But his contribution went far beyond that. Few top-flight players cover as much turf in the space of 90 minutes. He set the tone for Klopp’s gegenpressing style and without him so far this season Liverpool simply haven’t been as effective.

Much of the focus has been on the club’s failure to strengthen sufficiently in the transfer market this summer following a frustrating start to the campaign. But the absence of Lallana shouldn’t be under-estimated.

A damaged thigh muscle in the Audi Cup clash against Atletico Madrid in early August robbed Klopp of “the leader of the press”.

Thankfully, Lallana is now on the comeback trail. The visit of Manchester United a week on Saturday is likely to come too soon for him as he’s yet to return to full training, but he’s running again at Melwood and should be back in action before the end of the month.

His morale-boosting return will be a welcome shot in the arm to Liverpool’s flagging pressing game.

Data from InStat analysed by the CIES Football Observatory shows that opponents this season are enjoying an extra 3.6 seconds on the ball every time they have possession against Liverpool compared to when they face Manchester City.

Liverpool were top with City and Tottenham when it came to pressing last season, now they’re joint ninth alongside West Ham.

Klopp gives an injury update on Clyne and Lallana

Of course pressing is a collective effort, but Lallana is so important to Klopp because he leads the way.

Speaking back in March after the 3-1 win over Arsenal, Klopp said: “It is really nice to have Adam because he jumps out of compact formations and triggers the pressure.”

His team-mates joke that he's the teacher's pet. But they also know that a Liverpool side with Lallana fit and firing is a stronger one and his return can't come soon enough.