Huddersfield skipper Tommy Smith lends Jurgen Klopp a helping hand after costly errors gift Liverpool a much-needed victory

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In times of crisis, you turn to your friends for support. In this instance, it was the friend's captain who delivered. 

With an Anfield crowd growing increasingly frustrated during an aimless, barren first-half, Huddersfield skipper Tommy Smith gave away a silly penalty. Mohamed Salah missed but it was no matter. 

Following the break, Smith was at it again, this time teeing up Daniel Sturridge to score from around six yards out with an admittedly unfortunate header. This time there was no mistake. 

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp celebrated a much-needed victory to ease the pressure on him

Forget David Wagner helping Jurgen Klopp out, Smith may as well buy the Liverpool manager his dinner tonight and complete the hat-trick. Before this trans-Pennine affair, there had been murmurs of pressure building. 

Last week's Wembley pasting by Tottenham felt like a big moment. Anything other than three points here would have turned up the noise on the heavy metal fan. It did not start well. At half-time a crossbar challenge was held in front of the Kop and one of the punters took home a limited edition beer by hitting the target. He also won the biggest cheer of the afternoon so far from a frustrated home crowd, who had seen their side fail to create as many chances as they should. 

Klopp is close friends with Huddersfield boss David Wagner and the latter's captain proved to be a real help to him

Huddersfield captain Tommy Smith made two key errors to help Liverpool claim a vital victory

Forget Simon Mignolet and co's circus, against a Huddersfield that rightly parked a blue and white bus and only inched it forwards when Roberto Firmino and Georginio Wijnaldum had made it 3-0, the much-criticised Anfield backline had a pipe and slippers afternoon. 

The early taunts from the away end were familiar. 'Where's your famous atmosphere?' asked the visitors from over the Pennines. This cathedral of football was quiet, and there was frustration - but at no point was any anger directed towards Klopp. 

They know their football here. They also know that replacing a manager does not guarantee success - they have done it often enough. Liverpool were without Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane. The old saying is that you should not wish your life away. 

Mohamed Salah missed from the penalty spot during the first half after Smith conceded it

Jurgen Klopp found himself screaming on the touchline after a barren first half at Anfield

Klopp, however, may well wish that on the night the clocks go back he could spring forward to beyond the international break, when all three are likely to be back in action. 

Take three creative players out of any Premier League side and they would struggle for chances, as Liverpool did here until Smith's second gift. This was a performance that answered few questions, but anything other than a comfortable victory over the Yorkshire side would have raised a few more. 

But Daniel Sturridge pounced on another Smith error to open the scoring before Roberto Firmino and Georginio Wijnaldum scored the other two goals to complete a routine victory

There were nervy moments for the backline, but the much-maligned Mignolet could have pulled out an iPad, made summer holiday plans and checked on the progress of Liverpool's Rhian Brewster for England Under 17s in the World Cup Final, such was the amount of work he was asked to do. 

With the game approaching injury time, Klopp retreated to the bench, with the job done. Bigger challenges await, but this was a rare, comfortable afternoon which was much-needed.