The Reds boss explained that Lovren has done “a really good job” since he took over six weeks ago, adding that his first game for the club – in their 4-0 friendly victory over Borussia Dortmund when Klopp was then the manager of the Bundesliga outfit, insisting he was “brilliant” on that day.
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The £20million Croatian has endured a hard time at Anfield since his move from Southampton last summer. “Then he will go back to LA and train and play there”.
Liverpool entered this month’s worldwide break with more injuries than any other Premier League club.
Jamie Carragher believes Jurgen Klopp will make a new central defender one of his top priorities for Liverpool in the January transfer window – as Dejan Lovren has “never fully convinced”.
This is undoubtedly a huge opportunity for Lovren to show he has a role to play at Liverpool going forward, and he certainly seems to have the faith of his manager to step up in Sakho’s absence.
“I don’t know what will happen in January, if we have more injuries it will be important, of course”. But if we need, we will do [transfers]. “At this moment, there’s no decision”. I know in this world we judge after one second sometimes. However, as the Frenchman hobbled off against Crystal Palace in Liverpool FC’s last home game, Klopp brought on Lovren to patch up the defence.
He continued to discuss his transfer policy, saying: “I’m not the guy who buys 10 players today and sells 10 players tomorrow because we want to work together”.
If the Reds sign one player in January, it should (IMO) be an experienced, prolific, robust attacking player (with no significant injury history), who is capable of providing genuine width (i.e. Yarmolenko).
“I saw his first game for Liverpool – it was against Dortmund when we lost by four”.
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“He has a five-year contract and everybody wants to see more of him on the pitch, so we have to try [to manage his fitness]”. The existing squad also know that they’re being counted on even if players are being looked at in various positions.
