“We played in Rubin Kazan together and were feeling really good”, Lovren was quoted as saying on Liverpool FC’s official website. Lovren can probably count himself lucky that Klopp witnessed his play in person in what was one of his top performances in Red so far, and that he’s obviously managed to channel something of that performance during training since Klopp’s arrival.
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But you never know in football – injuries can happen today or tomorrow.
Former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers recruited Lovren from Southampton last summer as part of a £20million deal after just one impressive campaign in the Premier League the season before and has struggled for form at Anfield.
While Lovren is expected to pair up with Skrtel at the centre of Liverpool FC’s defence, manager Klopp would surely be feeling a bit uneasy about the fact that Sakho’s injury has left his side with little option at the back.
His error-strewn first year took its toll on his confidence, though he he made a total of 38 appearances in all competitions, but the 26-year-old is determined to put his hard first 12 months past him and find the kind of form that convinced Liverpool to pay so much for his services in the first place.
“Last year I had a tough year”.
He started the next game – the 3-1 loss at Old Trafford – before Sakho forced his way back into the starting line-up with a good showing away in Bordeaux. It was important for me that I had a good pre-season with the team and I’m feeling more comfortable now.
Klopp said: “Sakho is good news. So you need to be prepared”, mused the 26-year old, waxing philosophical before assuring the Reds faithful that he wasn’t resting on his laurels during his time on the sidelines.
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Few players on Liverpool’s current squad – who regularly make the team sheet, that is – garner such fan fury as Dejan Lovren. I’d heard not the best things about him since but during my time here he’s looked strong and everything is okay.
