--- title: "Don’t be down on Dejan" canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/articles/dont-be-down-on-dejan/" type: "post" language: "en-GB" author: "Jordan Lefebvre" section: "Articles" published: "2015-09-17T13:51:26Z" modified: "2015-09-17T13:59:06Z" --- # Don’t be down on Dejan I might be in the minority. Heck, I know I’m in the minority and I might even be the only one who holds the Liverpool number six in any sort of esteem, but honestly, I am a fan of Dejan Lovren. I’m not a fan because I think he has a nice haircut (Emre) or because he is the lovechild of Gerrard and Alonso (Moreno) but because his recent performances dictate that he can be a decent footballer and given time and circumstance, a consistently decent one. It annoys me then to constantly read ‘Lovren is terrible’. There are problems in the defensive unit but don’t point the finger at him, especially because you don’t have more than one reason to. The first thing that ticks me off is that when he plays well (which he has done for around 405 minutes out of 450 so far this season) you don’t get people lauding him with praise. It’s hard for a centre-back – any player in defence really – because your errors more often than not can be the difference between zero and three points. Apart from his best imitation of an elephant with a beach ball against West Ham, he has been performing well. It frustrates me that others believe that Lovren is not capable of being a long-term Reds centre-half and they are counting down the moments until he ‘does a Lovren’ as I heard someone put it. I know it is tough to judge players who had such a bad first season on their current performances, knowing that in the past they have been consistently poor, but let’s not forget a few people who didn’t have the best first season when signed (Henderson and De Gea spring to mind). Taking a look at his first five games, aside from his blunder against the Hammers; find me a reason why he should be dropped instead of Skrtel. ![Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Sport](https://readeverything.co/readliverpool/readliverpoolfc/2015/09/487888550.jpg) Let’s work backwards from United. The three goals conceded. The defensive setup for the set piece was diabolical. He’s the only one who spots Blind on the edge of the box and you can see him pointing and shouting. You don’t want your centre-half leaving the box to pick someone else up so why isn’t when he is spotted someone takes responsibility and goes to pick him up? Milner, Skrtel, Lucas. Three senior players who are internationals and have worn the armband at some point either don’t notice him or do notice him and decide he isn’t a threat. The second goal, Gomez stays on his feet and it isn’t a pen. Lovren is in a position to cover Gomez so he should stay on his feet but he’s 18 so let’s call it a learning curve and move on. The third goal, Skrtel gets his pants pulled down by some 19-year-old who had only twenty minutes of Premier League football to his name. So as far as defensive culpability here, I’d say none. Let’s also not pass over the fact Mignolet did his best to gift his fellow Belgian, Marouane Fellaini, an early goal. The West Ham game. Yes, a colossal error, but they happen. This was made worse by the fact it resembled Bambi on ice but again second half, he doesn’t do too badly. No one played well here, Gomez and Skrtel done for the first goal and Skrtel backing off for the third goal in similar fashion to the third conceded at United. The three games previous: three clean sheets and potentially Man of the Match against Stoke and Arsenal. ![Michael Regan/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images](https://readeverything.co/readliverpool/readliverpoolfc/2015/08/483483580.jpg) So we’ve leaked six goals, Skrtel was culpable for at least two – potentially three if you count his poor clearing header against West Ham for the first goal. Gomez was culpable for two with the pen and also playing a hand in the first goal against West Ham. Clyne has been solid apart from the foul on Ashley Young that led to the first goal against United. Lovren’s errors leading to shots and goals from the past 450 minutes of football: one – West Ham. Skrtel: at fault for three goals. Gomez: at fault for two goals. Clyne: one if we’re being harsh. Despite all this, I keep reading that people want him out of the starting XI for Sakho. I agree a change needs to be made but it isn’t Lovren that has to go. Skrtel needs to get the flick here. You’ve got three viable options (surely Toure isn’t viable long-term) to replace him in Sahko, Gomez or Can. Sahko is the logical choice but since Rodgers seems to be a big fan of Gomez, why not give him a chance to play in his preferred position (when he did against West Ham he looked decent) and let Moreno come in at full-back. I really do think that Lovren can be the domineering centre-half the club wants him to be and the fans are looking for since Hyypia and Carragher called it quits. Skrtel has to be the one to make way in order for him to be able to do that and with a younger, more technically proficient, centre-half partner, I think Lovren will step up and take command of the defence. He was coaching Gomez throughout the first two games and providing good cover for him. He was shouting at Skrtel to play it forwards and quickly against United when we were down but Skrtel dwells on the ball and then passes it backwards, and you can see Lovren’s reaction. Circumstances aren’t ideal for him to assume his leadership role. His partner is four years his senior, has been at the club since 2008 and has worn the armband on several occasions. He also had a bad first season in a red kit so that makes the whole ‘lead by example’ thing a bit difficult I’ll admit. Nevertheless, if Skrtel makes way, I think we may get a chance to see a commanding Lovren who can organise a backline in a way we’re crying out for. Against Norwich, I would love to see a back four of Clyne, Gomez, Lovren and Moreno. For those who don’t, at least if I get my wish and he makes a fool of himself again you can all turn round and say, “I told you so.”