Liverpool returned to winning ways with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Huddersfield Town.

In a slow first half, it was Emre Can who opened the scoring, his deflected volley finding it’s way past Jonas Lossl.

The Reds were able to banish their FA Cup exit to West Brom just before the break when Roberto Firmino fired home a second goal from an acute angle.

Mohamed Salah converted a second-half penalty after Can was pushed over in the box to make the scoreline a more comfortable one for Liverpool.

Here were the key talking points from the John Smith’s Stadium:

Rare high from a January to forget

 

Liverpool will be glad to see the back of another forgettable January.

Disappointing defeats to relegation-threatened Swansea and West Brom in recent weeks would have seen a third against Huddersfield Town become disastrous.

Instead, the Reds travelled to the John Smith’s Stadium and produced a functional performance even if it was not the best they have played this season.

But this kind of grinding win, with a clean sheet to boot, is one that can rebuild confidence throughout a squad suffering a mid-season crisis of confidence.

It also means Liverpool that keep the pressure on Chelsea ahead of them as well as affording some breathing space from Tottenham in the race for the top four.

Jurgen Klopp will take that after another testing start to the year for his players.

Lallana fitness is now a priority

 

It would be an easy and even lazy assertion to make that Liverpool’s midfield is lacking a creative edge since the departure of Philippe Coutinho.

With Adam Lallana out injured out, though, the Brazilian’s move to Barcelona is being far more sorely felt than originally anticipated.

Lallana provides the kind of drive and creativity in the centre of the park that the likes of Jordan Henderson and James Milner do not.

Neither performed badly; in fact, Henderson was comfortably man of the match, but it was telling that Liverpool utilised the wings rather than playing through the middle.

Given a Coutinho replacement will not be arriving on deadline day, Liverpool must do their utmost to get Lallana fit and firing as quickly as possible.

First goals remain key for Reds

 

With a forward line as potent as Liverpool’s, they often find themselves open the scoring in games.

Indeed, they’ve done so in 17 of their 24 league games so far. Of those 17 games, they’ve now won 13 and drawn four.

It would seem that scoring first gives Liverpool a boost and that was evident against the Terriers.

After Emre Can’s deflected strike they appeared to be more confident, passing that was more assured and controlling the game far better than they had before.

Maintaining this trend, especially with doubts continuing to linger over the defence, will be key moving forward.

Respect overdue for Firmino

 

The Premier League is full to the brim with world-class strikers and it is time for Roberto Firmino to be considered as such.

While the Brazilian may not have the goal tally to live up to the likes of Harry Kane and Sergio Aguero, he is no slouch.

His strike here was one of sheer ingenuity and class that only the best have in their locker, regardless of questions surrounding the goalkeeper.

He now sits on 19 in total for the season, equalling his best ever Premier League goal tally and taking him just three short of his best-ever goal scoring campaign.

It has long been said that what Liverpool were lacking is a top-class forward but Firmino has proven that is far from true, they already have one in their ranks.