Tag Archives: Dejan Lovren

Moreno & Firmino In: The Liverpool XI To Defeat West Brom On Sunday

Josh Challies April 16, 2017

Liverpool are on-course to secure a return to the Champions League but there’s still work for Jurgen Klopp’s side to do. Victory against West Brom this weekend is vital and this side should be able to secure all three points.

GK: Simon Mignolet

The signing of Loris Karius from Mainz last summer left Simon Mignolet in a sticky situation at Liverpool but the poor performances from the German stopper have allowed Mignolet to push his way back between the sticks at Anfield.

29-year-old Belgian stopper Mignolet is set to make his 23rd Premier League appearance of the season at the Hawthorns and will be desperate for a strong performance, as his current run of seven Premier League games without a clean-sheet is a big worry.

The game is being shown live on Sky Sports on Sunday afternoon (13:30pm kick-off UK time) and you can get a NowTV day pass and watch the game for just £6.29 with our fantastic 10% off a day pass offer.

Origi In, Mane Out: The Liverpool XI To Beat Bournemouth On Wednesday Night

Josh Challies April 4, 2017

Liverpool enjoyed a good weekend last time out, as the Reds beat Everton in the Merseyside derby and saw Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal all drop points.

The Reds therefore maintained third spot in the Premier League standings and have their hopes of Champions League football in their own hands, as they can keep in the top-four even if their rivals win their games in hand.

Having secured four points from clashes against Manchester City and Everton, Jurgen Klopp’s side are now preparing for a favourable run-in to the season but they’ll need to improve, having struggled against lower-end opposition this season.

On Wednesday, Liverpool host a Bournemouth side who defeated them on the South Coast earlier this season and the Reds will be keen on revenge. With Manchester United and Manchester City both facing stern tests this midweek, it’s an opportunity for Liverpool to strengthen their grip on a Champions League place.

Here, we’ve selected the Liverpool XI that Klopp should select to overcome the threat of the Cherries.

GK: Simon Mignolet

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Liverpool’s goalkeeping ranks are the weakest section of their squad but Simon Mignolet has managed to retain his spot as number one despite the summer signing of Loris Karius. Whilst the situation may change in the summer, Mignolet should definitely start against Bournemouth.

The Belgian has started 20 games for Liverpool in the Premier League this season and needs to show the best of his ability if the Reds are to retain their spot amongst the top-four. That means cutting out the mishaps that have plagued him during his time in Anfield but he has the capability to do that.

Analysis: Liverpool Ace Wants Club To Sign Winger, He’d Be A Good Fit

Josh Challies March 28, 2017

Liverpool face a challenge to finish in the top-four this season but the biggest obstacles lie in the years ahead, as the Reds look to create a side capable of challenging for major honours.

A number of top-class names have been linked with a move to Merseyside during the summer transfer window and The Daily Express claims Liverpool are ready to rival the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea for the services of Ivan Perisic.

The Croatian winger has impressed during his time in Italian football since moving to Milan from Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg and a step-up could occur this summer- and Liverpool ace Dejan Lovren has given a seal of approval to a deal for his compatriot.

What’s been said?

Speaking to Croatian outlet Jutarnji, Lovren sung the praises of the midfielder as he said:

“We players do not know anything about [transfers] until it happens. That’s always the case. But a player like Perisic moving to Liverpool would be great. He is a top quality player.”

“At Liverpool, all the players would welcome him with open arms. Obviously I do not know if it is true. What I can say is that he has exceptional football skills, knowledge and a higher than average quality.”

How would Perisic fit in?

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A natural wide-player, Perisic would add to the wealth of talent Liverpool have in this position but, rather than add competitiveness to the squad, his arrival could potentially allow other members of the squad to seal a more accustomed role in the side.

Roberto Firmino is capable of playing out-wide, as is Divock Origi, but the pair would likely be more effective through the middle- and Perisic could excel on the left-side of attack with Sadio Mane bombing down the opposite flank.

Phillippe Coutinho in a central role would also see Liverpool boost their attacking prowess and a 4-2-3-1 formation could work wonders, with Coutinho supported by Perisic and Mane on the flanks to contribute to the striker in the line-up.

That would allow captain Jordan Henderson to sit in front of the back four alongside Emre Can, in a line-up that, on paper at least, looks capable of mounting a challenge for major honours.

‘Time To Ditch Him’ Liverpool Fans Fume At Defender’s Performance vs. Swansea

Leanne LFC January 21, 2017

Few would have envisaged Liverpool coming up short against Swansea on Saturday afternoon, with the Reds holding the record of highest scorers and the away side conceding the most goals thus far. However, the Swans took full advantage of Liverpool’s defensive errors to gain a vital three points as they look to beat relegation.

Defensively, Liverpool have always been questionable. Conceding sloppy goals and failing to do the real basics provided a thorn in their side. However, that was thought to have been somewhat put to bed this season, with victories against Chelsea, Arsenal and City suggesting the Reds could battle at the top of the Premier League. The phrase “old habits die hard” is rather fitting in this situation, with Jurgen Klopp’s side coming unstuck by their own sloppiness at the back.

Dejan Lovren gave away a needless corner for Swansea’s first goal, heading the ball out of play under no pressure. The resulting corner was put in by Fernando Llorente, after the Croatian in the air to compound his earlier error.

After a performance fuelled with mistakes, Liverpool fans have been left pondering the long term future of Lovren at the club. Joel Matip is clearly the first choice centre back for Jurgen Klopp, but with neither Lovren nor Klavan covering themselves in glory at Anfield, many have called for the German to invest - be it in January or in the summer.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to Dejan Lovren’s performance. Do you agree with these thoughts?

Despite heavy suggestions that his time at the club is up, many have been calling for the return of Mamadou Sakho to partner Matip. The Frenchman has fallen out of favour with Jurgen Klopp, but the defensive frailties within the side highlight the need for change in the centre back positions. Liverpool fans certainly seem keen on the idea of a Sakho-Matip pairing.

Neither Klavan nor Lovren are consistent enough to provide the defensive pairing for a side wanting to challenge at the top of the Premier League. Klopp himself reflected on the quality of his back four following the defeat, and surely it is only a matter of time before he looks elsewhere for a quality defender.

Has Klopp’s trust in his players been thrown back in his face? Many suggested Liverpool needed external recruitment to address their defensive issues, but he said he believed in his squad and would rather educate them into becoming better players. But with the defence continuing to be the clubs Achilles heel, surely it is time to invest?

‘He Is Dire’ Liverpool Fans Have Had Enough Of This Defender After Bournemouth Collapse

Leanne LFC December 5, 2016

A second half capitulation from Liverpool ensured the Reds missed their chance of going second in the Premier League. Jurgen Klopp’s side were two goals to the good on separate occasions but defensive cracks and increased pressure from Bournemouth saw three points fall out of their grasp.

Dejan Lovren’s performance was rather questionable, with Joel Matip’s ankle injury highlighting the weak links in defence. The Cameroonian, who joined Liverpool in the summer on a free transfer, has become a pivotal part of Jurgen Klopp’s side - evident by the fact that the two losses sustained this season were without Matip.

In his absence, Lovren looked there for the taking. The Reds have lost twice this season, both of which Joel Matip didn’t feature in and it was all too familiar a story at the Vitality. Giving away the ball in his own half, the Croatian put his side under pressure, leading to James Milner conceding a penalty that instigated Bournemouth’s fight back. Rather than showing his experience and leading by example, Lovren, like many of his teammates, lost his head. Liverpool paid the price for failing to wrap up the game. A chance not taken.

Here’s how some fans on Twitter reacted to Lovren’s performance:

So far this season, Liverpool have been relatively solid at the back, with the defensive partnership of Matip and Lovren proving successful. However, what became apparent today in Matip’s absence was the fragility of the ex-Southampton defender. Despite being an experienced figure within the side, an error never seemed too far away from Lovren’s game.

On the back of such deflating defeats, fans often go into panic mode, as has been the case with the calling for several players to get the axe after throwing away a 2-0 lead. It would be silly to write off Lovren after just one game but he does find himself under pressure. A sustained absence from Matip could spell real trouble for Liverpool.

There has also been concern for summer signing Loris Karius. The goalkeeper was another guilty of a poor performance in this fixture. Liverpool need to hope this is a one-off performance from him, with Simon Mignolet proving to be similarly poor in recent years. What’s good for Karius is that he is only 23 and has plenty of time to adapt to English football and improved as a goalkeeper, Lovren, at 27, should now be in the prime of his career and now in his 4th season of English football, he has few excuses.

Not Again! Liverpool Prepare Bid To Sign Southampton Defender

Oli Price-Bates May 15, 2015

Liverpool are reportedly set to raid Southampton once again this summer with a £4million move for Jose Fonte.

It’s not the first time Rodgers has looked to the Saints to improve his defence, but last summers investment in Dejan Lovren hasn’t really worked out too well so far. So by logic, Lovren’s ex-partner must be the answer? Maybe, but Liverpool fans don’t seem keen on the idea.

At £4million Fonte could be a shrewd little signing, but he’s certainly not that big name centre half the fans want to see.

The Liverpool fans have responded by suggesting that the club are failing to effectively scout outside of the Premier League. I’d suggest they aren’t even scouting outside of Southampton.

The Saints fans have pointed to Rickie Lambert and Lovren as examples as to why Fonte should refuse a move. 31 year old Fonte has been a stalwart in his teams defence and it would be a shame and a bit odd if he were to join Liverpool this summer.

‘Just Why!?’: Twitter Questions Liverpool Penalty Takers

Josh Challies February 27, 2015

Liverpool fans have awoken with a sour taste in their mouth for the second-time this season after a European slip-up, with Besiktas knocking the Reds out of the Europa League in Istabul- the venue ten years ago for *that* Champions League final.

We were treated to a masterclass of penalties, until £20m defender Dejan Lovren stepped up and sent his spot-kick into orbit. Whilst he was criticised, the question is why on earth was he down to take the fifth penalty?

That debate has raged on from the final whistle and is likely to run for a couple of days, whilst I’m afraid we also don’t have the answer to the bizarre decision.

‘He Should Never Play Again’: Liverpool Fans Furious With Defender

Oli Price-Bates December 15, 2014

After another concerning performance from Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren in the 3-0 defeat to Manchester United, Reds fans turned on the player to declare that he should never play again.

The £20m defender, signed from Southampton this summer, has struggled to adapt to life in Merseyside and it’s taken a turn for the worse in recent weeks. With several tabloids suggesting a major fall-out between the Croatian and Liverpool hero Steven Gerrard, the defender could have done with a decent performance against United this weekend.

After mistake yesterday allowed United to capitalise and score, which made Lovren the defender with the highest number of defensive errors across Europe’s top five leagues. Naturally the fans were furious and it’s difficult to feel sympathy for the vastly under performing defender.