Lallana: Time flies when you're having fun!

Lallana returned to Jürgen Klopp’s starting line-up against the Baggies on Saturday after missing the 0-0 draw with Manchester United five days earlier due to a groin injury.

The England international produced a typically energetic, creative display to help Liverpool to a comfortable 2-1 win courtesy of first-half goals from Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho.

It’s now nearly two-and-a-half years since Lallana moved to Anfield from Southampton, and the No.20 has reflected fondly on his first century of appearances for the Reds.

“It’s flown - time flies when you’re having fun and doing what you really love,” he said.

“I’m delighted to be playing in a team that’s doing well, that really works for each other, and now we just have to be consistent.”

A record of six wins and just one defeat from their opening nine league fixtures means Liverpool sit third in the Premier League, level on 20 points with table-topping Manchester City.

On the Reds’ haul of four points from home games against United and West Brom in the last week, Lallana added: “I think we did well on Monday night, and a lot of the talk among the players was that we were disappointed not to have won.

“But we lost the last four before that against United and I think we hadn’t won in eight against a [Tony] Pulis side, so it’s been a very good week for us. 

“It was important to back Monday’s point with more here [against West Brom], and we did that.  

“It would have been nice to have gotten a third or fourth goal to make the last 15 minutes a little bit easier for us.

“West Brom played to their strengths and used their set-piece, which is disappointing, but we did enough to win - definitely - and that’s the most important thing. It makes the point on Monday night a very good one.”

Pulis’ team pulled a goal back late on when Gareth McAuley smashed home from close range following a superb corner from Chris Brunt.

“It’s a disappointment to concede from another set-piece,” Lallana continued.

“It’s no secret that we’ve let a few in this way, and we know it’s not about individuals, we’ve got to deal with it better as a team which the manager has touched on before.  

“It’s a mentality thing - we need to be more aggressive, work on our starting posture but three more points is massive for us.”