Lallana credits Henderson-chaired team meeting for Tottenham win

Adam Lallana revealed that a team meeting instigated by captain Jordan Henderson helped Liverpool return to its swashbuckling form against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

The Merseyside outfit prevailed by a 2-0 scoreline thanks to a quickfire double salvo from Sadio Mane in the opening stanza, but a huge positive will be taken from the manner of the victory. Liverpool was back to its breathless gegenpressing play, squeezing the life out of Spurs' approach and bagging a deserved and welcome three points.

Before the win, the Reds had taken just three points from the last possible 15 in the league, and had won only a single match in 10 across all competitions - against fourth-tier Plymouth Argyle. It transpires a skipper-chaired meeting - without manager Jurgen Klopp in attendance - was enough to spark a turnaround in Liverpool's fortunes.

"It was the team captain who got us together. He wanted it to happen," Lallana told The Telegraph's Chris Bascombe. "We knew as players we had to take responsibility. It was up to us to respond. The manager can say as much as he likes and tell us what he wants us to do and what attitude he wants us to have, but we have to do it.

"Credit to Jordan for calling the meeting, credit to everyone for participating and credit to everyone for performing. It wasn't just him who spoke, the senior players spoke, the non-senior players, everyone. It was good, and refreshing."

(Photo courtesy: Reuters)

The recent slump was the first time Klopp's methods had come under severe scrutiny. Some pointed to fatigue based on the exertions necessary for the German's blueprint, while other opined that reasons for the downturn in form were the goalkeepers, an error-strewn defence, and a misfiring strikeforce.

Even Henderson - recently and rather detrimentally passing sideways and dwelling in possession with Emre Can in a three-man midfield - was apportioned some blame.

"As long as it is not personal, just purely professional, there is no harm reminding each other what we need and what we want from each other," Lallana added. "It was very open and I came out of that meeting knowing that every one of those players is together and intent on turning things around. There was a sense of everyone coming together."

Lallana believes the poor run brought the team closer together, as players sought to find solutions for performances that were lacking both individually and collectively, but understands the club needs more consistency to challenge for top spot in the future.

Liverpool will drop to fifth if Manchester City takes at least a point from Bournemouth on Monday, and sits 11 points short of league leader Chelsea.