Adam Lallana's latest injury setback not serious says Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp

Liverpool are hopeful of having Adam Lallana available for the trip to Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday [2 December] despite the England international missing the win at Stoke City due to another injury setback.

The 29-year-old has only seen one minute of action this season - a substitute appearance against Chelsea - having missed much of the campaign with a hamstring injury.

Lallana made his return last week and was all set for another run-out at the Bet365 Stadium but a minor muscle strain ensured he was left out of the Liverpool match day squad. Defender Ragnar Klaven also missed the game through illness.

"Raggy is ill, that's how it is at this time of the year, in late November in the north-west of England - it can happen," manager Jurgen Klopp said, ahead of the 3-0 win which takes Liverpool into fifth, according to the club's official website.

"And Adam, it's a minor muscle thing, nothing really serious but he needs a few days to recover from that and then he's back in training and then in the squad."

Having dropped Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane for the 1-1 draw with Chelsea, Klopp restored the pair to his starting XI for the trip to Stoke. But Mohamed Salah and Philippe Coutinho were meanwhile left on the bench.

England Under-20 World Cup winner Dominic Solanke was handed his maiden Premier League start and he made an immediate impact, with a nut-meg on Ryan Shawcross to set up Mane for the opening goal.

Stoke felt the Reds should have been reduced to 10 men before half time when Simon Mignolet appeared to be the last man when he fouled Mame Biram Diouf outside of the penalty area but referee Martin Atkinson issued only a yellow card, leaving Potters boss Mark Hughes fuming on the touchline.

The visitors took full advantage of their good fortune and doubled their lead after the break as substitute Salah lashed beyond Lee Grant after Mane's cross.

The Egypt international then took his tally for the season to 16 since his summer move from Roma with a late third after he capitalised in Erik Pieters' error to slide home.

The result takes Liverpool up to fifth and Klopp believes the decision to rotate his squad ahead of the busy festive period has been justified.

"It was hard work but that's how football should be, especially when you go to a place like Stoke," he added. "No surprise. We could have made it a little easier for us in the first half, made use of two fantastic chances we had, we were not lucky or anything, brilliant play but we didn't use them.

"Second half, still an open game, should have been more clear with better passing and being more cool – but of course the atmosphere and Crouchy was there. Only after winning the balls we should have done better.

"We changed twice, two fantastic goals, brilliant play, especially the second. The third was a nice counter attack and nice finishing. Well deserved but hard work, that's how it is, no problem with that."