WE’RE now approaching that stage in the season again where we start to look at the squad and analyse which positions need to be strengthened in the upcoming transfer window. There are several certainties in the current squad whose futures seem very secure under Jürgen Klopp beyond this season, while for others — namely Daniel Sturridge and Alberto Moreno — a summer exit seems almost inevitable.
There are some figures, however, who split opinion as to whether they are good enough to be regular first-choice picks for Liverpool in the future. None more so than Dejan Lovren, a player who has experienced incredible highs and crushing lows during his time at the club.
A fairly calamitous debut season under Brendan Rodgers followed his £20 million arrival from Southampton in the summer of 2014 and there came a point where it looked as though there would be no way back for Lovren after a string of erratic, error-strewn performances in which he looked quite the opposite of the commanding centre-back Liverpool had paid big money for.
While at Southampton, Lovren looked comfortable alongside Jose Fonte with a strong midfield shield comprised of Morgan Schneiderlin and Victor Wanyama, he clearly struggled when placed in a more expansive system in which the centre-backs receive much less protection and are more regularly exposed, while also being tasked with playing out from the back.
https://twitter.com/TheAnfieldWrap/status/856882725374087169
Lovren’s renaissance under Klopp last season was based around doing the basics well and not over-complicating his game. That’s when Lovren is at his best — when he has a clear, focused task and doesn’t try to do more than he is capable of. Knowing his strengths and limitations certainly saw his performances improve immeasurably following Klopp’s arrival to the point where he became a dependable first-choice option alongside Mamadou Sakho, playing a crucial role in getting Liverpool to League Cup and Europa League finals.
That headed winner against Dortmund was clearly a monumental goal in terms of the match itself and the circumstances in which it all played out — but it carried an extra symbolic value in reflecting Lovren’s growth as a Liverpool player, a moment which finally saw him become accepted and admired by the fans. A pure moment of catharsis after having blazed the ball well over the bar in the dying moments as Liverpool were knocked out of the same competition by Besiktas the previous season.
The whole debacle surrounding Sakho, his UEFA suspension and subsequent fall-out with Klopp due to disciplinary issues opened up a vacant spot in the starting 11, although the feeling is that Lovren would have probably been Klopp’s first-choice to line up alongside Joel Matip for the start of this season anyway, regardless of Sakho’s situation.
Up until Sunday’s dismal defeat to Crystal Palace, Liverpool had been unbeaten in all 14 league games in which Lovren and Matip started together. The problem in that is clearly the fact that Liverpool’s strongest centre-back pairing have played well under half of the league campaign together due to respective injury and general health issues.
It’s an area in urgent need of addressing this summer, as it simply isn’t feasible to be aspiring to challenge for league titles when the defence is constantly being chopped and changed due to unavailability of key personnel. The drop-off in quality beyond the starting 11 is vast, particularly at centre-back, where Lucas Leiva and Ragnar Klavan represent a significant step down, despite a handful of standout performances.
Matip has largely excelled since his free transfer from Schalke, despite some iffy displays since returning from injury, with his natural pace and composure on the ball complementing Lovren’s more basic approach to defending. The issue has been both player’s inability to string together more than a few games at a time without picking up some kind of knock.
Lovren has generally had a satisfactory season with several exceptional performances and a few off-days. Of course, he was far from good enough against Palace, playing very much like the Lovren of old — wholly unconvincing. That said, the entire Liverpool performance was not at the level we’ve come to expect from any of the players.
What now seems very obvious is that Klopp simply must address the centre-back position this summer. Virgil Van Dijk has been named as a priority transfer target and would undoubtedly improve the starting 11 should Liverpool be able to land his signature — although that will surely depend on securing Champions League qualification.
The ideal scenario would be to bring in a player of Van Dijk’s calibre to slot in as first-choice alongside Matip, with Lovren effectively serving as the third choice while Joe Gomez continues to develop. What we have seen from Lovren is that against certain opponents — when he has to engage in physical battles — he usually plays very well and is arguably Liverpool’s strongest player in the air, but is still prone to the occasional lapse in concentration.
Given the anticipated involvement in European competition next season, Klopp will need a thicker squad and Lovren is certainly a player worth keeping hold of. Although not necessarily good enough to be an automatic starter, he’s still a fine squad player, but one who definitely needs strong competition for his place in the side.
Performances like the one against Palace should not cloud what has been a largely fine season for the Croatian, but if Liverpool are to reach the next level, the defence can and should be upgraded upon. As fans, we should get out of the mindset that any player who isn’t necessarily good enough to be a guaranteed starter should be sold.
Klopp needs adequate depth and quality in each position, and there is still a place in the squad for Lovren as Liverpool will need at least four solid centre-back options next season. Can the Reds do better in terms of a starting defender? Almost certainly, yes. But Lovren is still a player who has plenty to contribute for the club in the future, even if that means his place in the side is no longer a virtual guarantee on a weekly basis.
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FFS , just typical of a modern fan. Got his favourites and looks at things in a blinkered manner. Matip largely impressed? Someone as first choice alongside Matip? They’re both very ordinary. Just different types of ordinary. Loren switches off and does silly things while Matip ducks out of headers and backs out of 50/50s . Looks silky on the ball, so fucking what? Go play in midfield. Liverpool are going to concede 50 again this season and will do every season if we don’t change BOTH centre backs, the goalkeeper and screen them with a ball winner. This is fucking simple. Relegation threatened teams who change their manager instantly sure up at the back. It’s far easier than blitzing teams. That’s why Allardyce, Pulis, etc. can do it year in year out. 4-3-3 won’t work in England unless you have guys like Cech, Terry, Carvalho, Makalele, Robben, Drogba. Truly world class players. How many world class players have we got again?
Bit harsh there lad. He’s only saying that Lovren is a good squad option. He also makes the point that Matip has had a few dodgy performances since injury but has largely been decent in his first season. Hardly a controversial article. Everyone is feeling rubbish after the weekend, no need to bawl anyone out or tell them to “grow up”. Disagree, just no need for the edge mate.
Bit harsh mate.
I thought it was a good article and raises the point we need quality in the starting 11 and players of lovrens calibre as squad players if we want to mount a serious challenge next season.
NOOOOOOOO!
Think Steven needs to munch on a snickers bar.
Don’t we all Sharpy. :)
I was raging for a day or so, now I feel a bit sad about it all to be honest. I hate being defeatist but I can’t see us doing it now. We have to win at Watford to get back in a good position and that’ll be tough. Not even sure what the best result of City/ United would be, one slaughtering the other maybe? I think we can score at Watford but can we grind it out if we do? Fingers crossed anyway.
league doesn’t finish at the weekend mate. There are games after this. Plenty is going to change so don’t write us off yet.
Yeah, I know KM, just feeling a bit shite, I’ll be bang up for the next match. :)
Lovern is pants and should be the first one shown the door as soon as the summer transfer window opens
Lads please, for years now different contributors here have said there’s an acceptance of mediocrity at this club. That’s all I was getting at. Now we have a squad of hardworking mediocre players instead of just mediocre players. Every defender at the club falls into this bracket . Is there really that much difference quality wise man for man between us and Palace? Would Schlupp, Townsend, Zaha, Cabaye and others look out of place at Liverpool?
Fairplay, nothing wrong with your point Steven, it was a bit sharp in your post though (not that I’m in any way the ‘voice of reason’ or owt’).
yet here we are with a decent chance of champions league football with this bunch of mediocre, top scoring lads.
There’s a difference between accepting mediocrity and understanding things simply don’t change overnight
“WE’RE now approaching that stage in the season again ”
you make it sounds like it stops at some point….
I agree that we need to replace both center backs with world class starters able to play football the way Klopp wants his team to play. However both Matip and Lovren are good squad players that will be key in a team that has European games next season (CL or EL as the case may be) and should not be sold. Particularly Matip who can be a quality utility defensive player in the center of the defence or in front of the back line as a holding midfielder. Lovren will have a necessary role to play but not as a starter. Sahko should be kept. Starting left back need no brainer. Good young squad players in defenders Trent-Arnold and Gomez coming through.
We also have issues with the depth of our midfield that requires attention like the need for a worldclass midfield general starter to whom Hendo can provide backup and competition from the bench. Can and Gini have had a good season but I’m of the opinion that we also need a world class ‘box to box’ dynamo in the middle that will provide the kind of support to our attackers who on their day are world beaters. That said, the top scoring attack in the league would still benefit from having a 20 goal a season front man that consistently turns a half chance into that goal that makes the difference in a tight scrappy game when things are not going to game plan against a team that has parked the bus in a effort to frustrate.
It is the spine of the team that needs some serious attention in the transfer window. We need 4-5 world class players in over the summer to challenge for the league and cups next season and that should be obvious.
The fact that we our squad is paper thin on proven quality is something that got distorted by the fact that Klopp had the team punching way above its weight all season notwithstanding our unexpectedly disappointing displays against certain ‘beatable teams’. That the team is a work in progress must be the clear understanding amongst us as Liv fans so that we give our unswerving support to Klopp’s efforts and rebuilding.
A top 4 finish sets up an interesting summer transfer window and a top 4 finish is definitely still on. Given our record this season for coming up with a ‘reaction’ after a disappointing loss I can see us winning the next 4 if we get behind the team and the manager.
Marc, planning to import the whole Barca or Real team?:) you know it does not work that way in reality.
Klopp will be ruthless when he needs to, but it is highly likely he will bring in two brand new centre backs as starters in addition to left back position. And in my opinion, Klopp trusts Hendo to do the job, therefore as long as he’s fit, he will start in the centre of three midfield.
I believe Can and Gini will be competing for one position, to play with Hendo and Lallana. It will be a long season with champions League matches (I hope).
Therefore, urgent need will be:
Left back
One CB
Wide attacking player
Striker
All the rest can be from the current squad or u23 or in loan players.
As long as out first 11 (or 14) stay fit, we will be challenging for the title next season, or at least the first 18 or so will all be good enough to challenge.
Nothn more than a squadie we need better think we need 2 centerbacks as man moutain looks abit injury prown so think we need 2
Couldn’t agree more. I like Dejan Lovren and it seems harsh to give him too much criticism off the back of one dreadful performance but in a general sense there are still big question marks over his game and he’s our most established CB – about to finish his 3rd full season at Liverpool. He is best, as you say, when told to keep it simple, but he is far too prone to his losing his head (and once it’s gone it’s away over the Irish Sea somewhere). He has a bizarre habit of trying to play himself out of a bad spell by pretending he’s Thiago Silva and attempting mad 40 yard balls he just isn’t a good enough footballer to pull off. Most defenders tend to drop deep and play conservative to hide defensive flaws at moments like that. Lovren just goes Kamikaze. Mad.
Lovren is a great (3rd choice) CB option for a top 4 club. Keep him on a short leash and he would shine in the role Klavan has played this season.
Matip is the better option to partner whoever comes in. He is younger, has settled quickly, and if his pre-Christmas pre-injury form is anything to go on is less-prone to the mad spells, particularly with a settled partner. His biggest concern is repetitive injuries more than his mindset or limitations of ability.
Let lovren go, it’ll send a message to others that you don’t screw around with the club.
It’s time to be firm and don’t let these average players get a free ride. That being said, Sturridge free ride is over. Let him go too, too many injuries. Plays one game, gets injured for 3-4 weeks. What are we paying his wages for?
Get a strong midfield player, two more CB and a left back. Use them youngsters as backup.