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Adam Lallana is mid-sentence discussing Liverpool’s journey to the brink of European glory under Jurgen Klopp when the interview is gate-crashed.

His manager appears at the locked balcony door outside of an upstairs Melwood meeting room, gesturing to be allowed in to say his piece.

“What are you doing here?” Klopp asked.

“Speaking about you!” Lallana said.

“Ask him if he knows when Spurs start pre-season training?” Klopp joked in a reference to recent speculation linking the England international with a summer move to White Hart Lane.

“Too late, we have already spoken about that,” Lallana responded.

“I asked him and he said July 1,” Klopp said before descending into laughter.

“I thought you were being serious,” Lallana insisted.

“Are you crazy!” Klopp added before heading back out the door.

It’s a snapshot of the warm relationship between Klopp and one of his most trusted senior players.

Lallana is rarely far away from the charismatic German as the pair are neighbours in Formby.

“It is nice actually. He has just got a nice family, nice kids and I see him walking the dogs,” Lallana said.

“My little boy (Arthur) when I take him up for a bath, we have the landing and one time he (Klopp) was taking out the bins so I put my lad on the balcony and he was shouting: ‘Klopp’ and giving it the fist pump celebration.

“He just looked at him and gave him a wave. It is funny. Brendan (Rodgers) was my neighbour before. Formby is renowned for players living there. It is a lovely area and very quiet.”

For the record, there is no chance of Lallana going anywhere. The 28-year-old midfielder remains close to Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, who he played under at Southampton, but he’s focused on being part of Liverpool’s future, which he’s convinced will be bright with Klopp at the helm.

“I’ve got three years left on my contract here,” Lallana said.

“It was only last season that people might have read that I was leaving and thought ‘Yes, let’s get him out’. But football changes very quickly and I’m really enjoying my football under this manager.

“I’ve always had a good relationship with Pochettino. We are very good friends off the pitch now. But it would be very difficult (to leave).

“I am at a massive club here and playing some of my best football for the club, getting to cup finals.”

Criticised for failing to live up to his £25million price tag last season, Lallana has blossomed under Klopp and proved he belongs at Anfield.

His tireless work ethic is ideally suited to the manager’s pressing game. He’s clocked up 48 appearances this term and has been one of the Reds’ most consistent performers en route to Wednesday night’s Europa League final against Sevilla.

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“Overall it was a disappointing season for me last year and for the club, especially coming off the back of a season when Liverpool challenged for the title,” he said.

“The last seven months have been very important for me. I feel as though I have established myself at Liverpool and I am enjoying it.

“I wouldn’t say Jurgen’s got inside our heads or he’s some kind of psychologist. But it was a fresh start for everyone when he came in.

“He demands hard work. He doesn’t do passive. That is a word he uses a lot. He says if you defend passive there is no point in playing.

“You are entitled to make a mistake and he accepts you will have a bad game but he really won’t be happy if you are not giving it your all.

“I just feel really appreciated under this manager. That’s just how it has worked out.”

Lallana has been on the wrong end of a Klopp tongue-lashing from the touchline but insists within the confines of the dressing room the boss rarely loses his rag.

“He was screaming at me during the Chelsea game last week but he screams so much on the day of a game that you’ve got to take it with a pinch of salt really,” he said.

“You definitely can’t take it personally, that’s just him. He was shouting at me to be more compact.

“The worst thing you can do in that situation is gesture ‘What do you mean?’ or dismiss it. The best thing is to just nod your head even if you don’t understand what he’s saying.

“After the game he will always explain that he was just trying to help you. He is a great character to have around. I really like the way he is and I think his traits bring the best out of a lot of players.

“He doesn’t get too angry after a game. Even after a defeat he’s more disappointed that we haven’t shown our best. He is very structured in what he says.

“He is animated and emotional on match days and that makes him who he is. But when you come away from that he is very affectionate, and has a laugh and a joke.

“People speak about the hugs he seems to give everyone but sometimes that can mean a lot to a player. It can make you feel wanted and shows he appreciates the hard work you have just put into a game.”

Prior to February’s Capital One Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley, Klopp told his players: ‘This will be the first of many finals we’ll have together.’

It was a message which resonated with Lallana and three months after the heartache of losing on penalties they have another shot at winning silverware. The prize is huge as Liverpool chase a first European trophy for 11 years and qualification to the Champions League.

“I remember it vividly,” Lallana said.

“The way he said it, you just believed there would be more finals whether it was this year or next year or whenever. It just shows you his confidence and self-belief and I think that rubs off on the lads, sub-consciously or not.

“He said we would use the experience whether we won at Wembley or not. We were on the losing side that day but I certainly learned from it and I’m sure the other players did too.

“We will be better for it and more prepared for this final. Getting to two finals is difficult in the same season. There is no luck in that.

“Being the hero doesn’t bother me, but being part of a successful team does bother me. Winning on Wednesday would be massive for me and the club - a great base for us to really push on next season.”