When Mohamed Salah departed the 2018 Champions League final with a dislocated after just half an hour, Jürgen Klopp was forced to turn to his substitutes’ bench and somehow come close to filling the void left by the Egyptian. It was, in truth, an impossible task.

In the end, Klopp turned to a player who was lacking match practice, who had completed one set of 90 minutes all season, but who he knew could excel as part of his front three, as he had done regularly a year earlier.

For all that says about the lack of depth at Klopp’s disposal last term, it also speaks to the faith Adam Lallana still commands among those that matter at Anfield. Unfortunately and unsurprisingly, he was out of rhythm, off the pace and could not make up for the loss of Salah against Real Madrid.

Kiev was one of Lallana’s most forgettable nights in a Liverpool shirt. And while the memories of the run to the final will live long with many of the club’s supporters, it had been a year when many began to forget about Lallana too.

Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings Show all 22 1 /22 Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings Bernd Leno - 6 Arsenal's German goalkeeper Bernd Leno (L) makes a save against Liverpool's Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London on November 3, 2018. (Photo by Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings Hector Bellerin - 6 LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 03: James Milner of Liverpool battles for possession with Hector Bellerin of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at Emirates Stadium on November 3, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Getty Images Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings Shkodran Mustafi - 7 LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 03: Sadio Mane of Liverpool battles for possession with Shkodran Mustafi during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at Emirates Stadium on November 3, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) Getty Images Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings Rob Holding - 6 LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 03: Rob Holding of Arsenal battles for possession with Roberto Firmino of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at Emirates Stadium on November 3, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Getty Images Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings Sead Kolasinac - 6 Arsenal's German-born Bosnian defender Sead Kolasinac (L) heads the ball as Liverpool's English defender Trent Alexander-Arnold watches during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London on November 3, 2018. (Photo by Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings Granit Xhaka - 7 LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 03: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUDNAY OUT) Roberto Firmino of Liverpool with Granit Xhaka of Arsenal fc during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at Emirates Stadium on November 3, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) Liverpool FC via Getty Images Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings Lucas Torreira - 7 Liverpool's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (L) vies with Arsenal's Uruguayan midfielder Lucas Torreira during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London on November 3, 2018. (Photo by Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings Henrikh Mkhitaryan - 5 TOPSHOT - Arsenal's Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan (R) heads wide as Liverpool's Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker comes out to challenge during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London on November 3, 2018. (Photo by Ian KINGTON / IKIMAGES / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings Mesut Ozil - 5 Arsenal's German midfielder Mesut Ozil (L) vies with Liverpool's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (R) during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London on November 3, 2018. (Photo by Ian KINGTON / IKIMAGES / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - 6 Liverpool's English defender Trent Alexander-Arnold (R) vies with Arsenal's Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (L) during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London on November 3, 2018. (Photo by Ian KINGTON / IKIMAGES / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings Alexander Lacazette - 6 LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 03: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at Emirates Stadium on November 3, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) Getty Images Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings Alisson - 6 Arsenal's French striker Alexandre Lacazette (R) vies with Liverpool's Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker (L) during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London on November 3, 2018. (Photo by Ian KINGTON / IKIMAGES / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings Trent Alexander-Arnold - 6 Liverpool's English defender Trent Alexander-Arnold (R) vies with Arsenal's Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (L) during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London on November 3, 2018. (Photo by Ian KINGTON / IKIMAGES / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings Joe Gomez - 6 LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 03: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUDNAY OUT) Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gomez of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at Emirates Stadium on November 3, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) Liverpool FC via Getty Images Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings Virgil Van Dijk - 8 Arsenal's French striker Alexandre Lacazette (L) vies with Liverpool's Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk (R) during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London on November 3, 2018. (Photo by Ian KINGTON / IKIMAGES / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings Andy Robertson - 7 LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 03: Andy Robertson of Liverpool battles for possession with Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at Emirates Stadium on November 3, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) Getty Images Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings Fabinho - 5 LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 03: Fabinho of Liverpool battles for possession with Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at Emirates Stadium on November 3, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Getty Images Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings Georginio Wijnaldum - 6 Liverpool's Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum (L) celebrates with Liverpool's English midfielder James Milner (R) after scoring their second goal during the pre-season friendly football match between Liverpool and Napoli at the Aviva Stadimum in Dublin on August 4, 2018. (Photo by Paul FAITH / AFP) (Photo credit should read PAUL FAITH/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings James Milner - 8 LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 03: James Milner of Liverpool battles for possession with Hector Bellerin of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at Emirates Stadium on November 3, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) Getty Images Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings Sadio Mane - 7 LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 03: Sadio Mane of Liverpool reacts during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at Emirates Stadium on November 3, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Getty Images Arsenal vs Liverpool player ratings Mohamed Salah - 6 Liverpool's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (L) vies with Arsenal's Uruguayan midfielder Lucas Torreira during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London on November 3, 2018. (Photo by Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. 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Not long before that, he had been of considerable importance to this team. In Klopp’s opening game in charge, a goalless draw at Tottenham Hotspur, Lallana practically collapsed into one of his manager’s bear hugs, so spent was he from carrying out this intense style of pressing for the first time.

The image became symbolic of the new order at Anfield. Here was one of the more indulgent signings of the Brendan Rodgers era, bought without much of defined role in mind, only now here was evidence of direction and purpose.

Lallana duly became one of the best at carrying out Klopp’s particular style. The following campaign was the best of his Anfield career, operating either as a central midfielder with license to burst or in a fluid front three alongside two of Philippe Coutinho, Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino.

Red Star Belgrade vs Liverpool Key information Kick-off: 5.55pm GMT TV: BT Sport 3

A new three-year contract came that February, for a player closing in on his 29th birthday. It was a deal that Liverpool might not usually strike for a maturing player but Lallana’s performances had earned rewards.

When news of Lallana’s thigh injury broke before the start of the next season, his absence for at least three months or more was seen as a significant blow to Liverpool’s hopes of navigating a difficult opening run of fixtures. It was supposedly a dent to their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.

Yet just over a year later, Liverpool are once again competing in the Champions League, with new depth in key positions. Lallana has not only suffered the thigh problem but hamstring trouble too and the fact that he has made just four appearances this season is little more than a footnote.

Lallana was a key figure in Klopp's first two seasons (Getty)

It should encourage Lallana that three of those outings came in Liverpool’s four games. The opportunities are unlikely to come as consistently, though, once Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita fully recover from their respective injuries.

At least, as Liverpool prepare to meet Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday night, Lallana is present. Xherdan Shaqiri, the summer signing from Stoke City and Lallana’s chief competition for minutes this season, has been curiously left back on Merseyside for what can only be described as political reasons.

Klopp was as reluctant to speak about Shaqiri’s absence in Belgrade on Monday night and just as reticent when the subject of his line-up was brought up. Was this now an opportunity for Lallana?

“All the games are opportunities,” he said. “Whatever I could say about that would lead you in a direction. I don’t want to give the line-up away.”

Yet given Shaqiri’s situation, the fitness concerns around others and the temptation to rest regulars against Group C’s bottom seeds, it would be a surprise if Lallana were not handed another chance at the Rajko Mitic Stadium.

Some will wonder whether, at 30-years-old and after spending so long sidelined, he can still be the same player of 18 months ago. Fairly so. Yet the last time he made two consecutive 90-minute Liverpool appearances, it was early 2017 and he was an undisputed first-team player.