Middlesbrough 0-3 Liverpool: Adam Lallana at the double as Jurgen Klopp's side hit top form

So it turns out Jurgen Klopp called this one wrong: Loris Karius could have played and the final result would not have been in any semblance of danger.

After 72 hours of the news agenda being driven by Karius’ erratic form, Klopp decided no good could have come from subjecting the German to an ordeal on the barren banks of the Tees, at a venue where Liverpool historically falter.

As it turned out, this became the easiest game of the campaign for any Liverpool goalkeeper. So dominant were the outfield players, so totally in control and ruthless when the chances came, it made no difference who was standing between the posts at Middlesbrough.

Adam Lallana headed Liverpool into the lead in the 29th minute as he got on the end of Nathaniel Clyne's cross from the right

Lallana celebrates in style after scoring his sixth goal of the season to put Liverpool ahead against Middlesbrough

Lallana is congratulated by James Milner, Jordan Henderson, Sadio Mane and the rest of his team-mates after scoring

Divock Origi doubled Liverpool's advantage by getting on the end of Lallana's cross after 60 minutes

Divock Origi wheels away after doubling Liverpool's lead against Middlesbrough on the hour mark

Lallana celebrates after  scoring his second of the net and securing all three points for Liverpool

Roberto Firmino piles on top of his team-mates as they celebrate leapfrogging Arsenal and going second in the league

What is stopping Middlesbrough from putting distance between themselves and the relegation zone is their inability to take chances; they are solid, well-organised and work like Trojans but they are the league’s lowest scorers.

You could see why in the opening 45 minutes. They had plenty of possession in the early skirmishes and hemmed Liverpool back but the closest they came to an opening was when Alvaro Negredo received a pass on the edge of the area but he was immediately closed down by Dejan Lovren.

Soon enough, Liverpool began to find their rhythm. Sharp passes were fired into feet, willing runners looked to get on the shoulders of defenders and the feeling began to grow that, before long, they would make their superiority tell.

At times they were guilty of over-elaboration. One pass on the edge of the area turned into two or three when really what was required was someone to put their foot through the ball and test Victor Valdes. Klopp frequently spun on his heels in frustration, grimacing when chances were squandered.

Henderson goes in for a full-blooded tackle with Middlesbrough midfielder Marten de Roon during the first-half

Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren grapples with Middlesbrough striker Viktor Fischer during a tight opening 45 minutes

Henderson and Lallana track the run of Middlesbrough's Traore as the home side look to level matters

Liverpool right back Clyne challenges for the ball with Middlesbrough striker Fischer

Firmino grapples with fellow countryman Fabio as he looks to keep hold of possession for the away side

Klopp issues instructions from the touchline as his Middlesbrough counterpart Aitor Karanka watches on

Then, though, it all changed. Just before the half hour, Sadio Mane saw Nathaniel Clyne scurrying forward and urged him to carry his run on; the full-back never broke his stride and, in turn, provided a perfect cross to the back post where Lallana planted a header, his fifth goal of the campaign.

Middlesbrough responded determinedly, Viktor Fischer forcing a plunging save from Mignolet in the next attack, but it was not anything to take Liverpool from their comfort zone. If anything Karanka was thankful to go into the break only trailing by one goal following another swift break.

Just before half-time, Divock Origi’s reverse ball enabled Mane to stretch clear off Ben Gibson but he failed to inflict maximum punishment, his left footed drive thudding against the woodwork. Origi, following up, could only fire the rebound into the side netting.

Klopp need not have worried. Liverpool resumed in the same mood, calm, efficient, passing the ball in triangles that left Middlesbrough seeing stars and in the 61st minute, they killed the game when Origi applied the finish to a pinpoint cross from Lallana.

Soon after the favour was repaid. Referee Jon Moss allowed play to go on after Gibson had clattered into Mane and Origi picked out Lallana at the back post, who rifled in first time with his left foot. This contest was well and truly over.

By now, Klopp was a picture of happiness, back-slapping his assistants Zelkjo Buvac and Peter Kraweitz as players engulfed Lallana. Once again, all was right with the world.

The Middlesbrough players look dejected as they prepare to kick-off after conceding a third goal in the second half

The travelling Liverpool supporters broke an advertising hoarding as they celebrated Lallana's second of the night

Lallana received a warm embrace from Liverpool boss Klopp as he was taken off late in the game