Liverpool 3 Huddersfield 0: Daniel Sturridge, Roberto Firmino and Georginio Wijnaldum on target for Reds

DANIEL Sturridge helped save Liverpool from more misery as controversy ruled even before kick-off.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp stood by Dejan Lovren, naming him in the starting line-up, despite the centre-half being substituted after 31 minutes of play at Wembley last weekend.

Lovren, who had needed medication in order to play through the pain barrier, was hauled off during the 4-1 thrashing by Spurs after his clangers led to the first two goals.

It provoked a storm of social media that saw the former Southampton man delete a reference to Liverpool from his Instagram bioraphy and block messages.

But the 28 year-old - much to the delight of the Anfield faithful - was then injured during the warm up today and replaced in the starting line-up by Ragnan Klavan.

Keeper Simon Mignolet, who had also born the brunt of criticism last weekend, did however also keep his place although the influential Philippe Coutinho was missing after suffering an abductor injury in training earlier this week. This was the first time since 1971 that the Terriers had visited Anfield for a league encounter. They have not beaten them since December 1959 - days before then Huddersfield manager Bill Shankly resigned to join Liverpool, going on to win three Championships, two FA Cups and the Uefa Cup in his 15 years on Merseyside.

A repeat of that era looks a long way off given a lacklustre first-half performance by the home side who lacked energy, tempo and creativity.

Against better sides they would have struggled to notch up a victory with the match only coming to life with two second-half goals as Huddersfield faded further having just one effort on target themselves throughout the entire 90 minutes.

When Tommy Smith pulled Firmino's shirt in the area on the 41st minute, referee Kevin Friend had no hesitation pointing to the penalty spot. But Mo Salah, whose penalty kick sent Egypt through to the World Cup finals earlier this month, aimed his shot straight to Town keeper Jonas Lossl and Jordan Henderson could only hit the rebounded effort wide. With James Milner and Firmino also in the team you have to wonder why they stood aside for Salah in the first place.

Daniel Sturridge finally broke the deadlock just after the re-start with his first goal since the Reds thrashed Arsenal 4-0 back in August. A mis-timed header by Smith found Sturridge on the edge of the six yard-box allowing him to shoot past Lossl. And on the 58th minute the home side sealed all three points, bringing their run of just one win in six matches to an end. Firmino headed the ball into the goal, slipping past Aaron Mooy after attacking a Milner corner.

Georginio Wijnaldum made it number three with a right foot shot after Salah made amends for his penalty blunder, setting him up perfectly for the goal.

The visitors's best effort came 18 minutes from time when former Liverpool player Tom Ince saw a free-kick curl over the bar of Mignolet.

It ensured manager Klopp won the bragging rights over best pal David Wagner who he worked with in Germany. The two have been close since playing together at Mainz in the 1990s and Wagner managed Borussia Dortmund's second team as Klopp was leading the first to Bundesliga success.

From The Sun