Liverpool returned to second in the Premier League table with a hard-earned 4-1 win over Stoke City.

Jurgen Klopp’s side had surprisingly found themselves a goal down inside 15 minutes after Jonathan Walters had headed home for the away side.

It threatened to turn out to be a frustrating evening for the Reds as the visitors threatened to add more to their tally in a bright start to the game.

However they rallied and goals from Adam Lallana, Roberto Firmino, Daniel Sturridge and an own goal from Gianelli Imbula saw them take all three points.

Here were the key talking points from Anfield…

Lallana is now Klopp’s main man

 

Ever since Jurgen Klopp’s arrival at Liverpool, Adam Lallana has arguably been the man who has improved the most.

His form this season has been sensational, to say the least, as he has firmly established himself as one of the key men for both the Reds and England.

With the Three Lions boss watching in the stands he impressed once again in this game, with his superb finish from the tightest of angles just rewards for his performance.

That strike was his seventh in all competitions this season and his team will need him to continue his impressive run, especially while Philippe Coutinho nurses his way back to fitness.

Allen proves a point on Anfield return

 

His side may have left Anfield without any of the points but Joe Allen will be very pleased with his own performance on his return to Merseyside.

The Welshman was allowed to leave Liverpool in the summer as he sought out regular first team football, despite having impressed last season.

He has since starred for the Potters and was in industrious form in this game as he played the role of chief creator for the Potters and worried the Reds throughout the first half.

It was a top-notch performance and certainly one that will have some Reds fans questioning whether Liverpool should have kept him after all.

Reds show their grit

 

One major question mark over Liverpool has been their perceived soft centre this season but this victory showed they may be tougher than they let on.

The Reds struggled to deal with Stoke’s direct approach in the first 20 minutes, something that played a key role in Walters’s opener.

They soon settled, though, with central defensive pairing Klavan and Lovren forcing Peter Crouch into a bit part role for much of the game.

Indeed, across the pitch, Klopp’s team were not afraid to put their foot in and match the visitor’s physicality and it played a key role in the eventual win.

No distractions for Firmino

 

The news of a drink driving charge for Firmino cast something of a shadow over the striker heading into this game.

Some fans, and likely his manager too, may have worried that the incident could end up distracting the Brazilian over this busy run of games.

If there were such worries, though, they were unfounded as the forward put in a diligent display on Liverpool’s left wing, even managing to get himself on the score sheet with an expertly-taken strike.

If Liverpool are to continue to chase down Chelsea at the top of the table they will need Firmino at his best.

This game suggested he is firmly focused on proceedings on the pitch rather than off it.