---
title: "Klopp leaps to Lovren’s defence after recent criticism"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/articles/klopp-leaps-to-lovrens-defence-after-recent-criticism/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Articles"
published: "2020-03-03T08:00:00Z"
modified: "2020-03-03T08:00:00Z"
---

# Klopp leaps to Lovren’s defence after recent criticism

Jurgen Klopp has defended Dejan Lovren after the Croatian received a lot of criticism in the last couple of days.

The Croatian was desperately poor in Saturday’s 3-0 defeat away to Watford, much like the rest of his Liverpool teammates, as the Reds’ unbeaten run came to a surprise end.

It is Lovren who has come in for a lot of[stick](https://metro.co.uk/2020/03/01/jamie-carragher-liverpool-watford-strange-dejan-lovren-12328406/), however, after he started the game instead of Joe Gomez and Liverpool then produced their worst performance of the season.

Speaking to reporters at his press conference on Monday, Klopp stuck up for his player:

> If anybody gave Dejan Lovren the blame for our defeat then I can’t help these people.

> A lot of times in my life I speak to people who know less than I do about football and that’s OK as I’m a well-paid Premier League manager and I should know more than most people. But, on that level, I can’t discuss it. You have to see the situations.

> Yes, it was a massive challenge for Dejan to play against Troy Deeney. So many other centre-halves in the world would struggle in these specific situations. Joe had problems in similar situations before that. Probably everybody gets it in these situations, that’s how it is.

> Dejan and Joel played sensational games for us but like everybody in life you have to be healthy and then you have to get fit and then you need rhythm.

> That’s the most difficult thing to get in professional football. When you’re out, you have sessions but you don’t play that often. Dejan is an outstanding centre-half.

### Read Liverpool Verdict

Klopp is absolutely right to show faith in Lovren publicly, but I don’t believe he should think that the Croatian is good enough in the long-term. He isn’t, for me, consistent enough to be able to play in arguably the [world’s best club side](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/025a-0e9f8fe852b8-ff94b0553a0e-1000--club-world-cup-firmino-wins-final-for-liverpool/).

If Klopp does think the centre-back is up to it, then for once in his magnificent Liverpool reign, he could be wrong. It may be his one blind spot!

The gulf in class between the 30-year-old and Gomez now looks huge, even though the Croatia international has played well from time to time.

I believe Lovren should be moved on at the end of the campaign, with the Reds bringing in a new fourth-choice centre-back, such as Leeds United’s Ben White, who has been [linked](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2019/11/20/liverpool-have-a-genuine-interest-in-ben-white/) with Liverpool this season.

Lovren is now in his sixth season at Liverpool and the same errors are still happening and at the age of 30, there’s no sign that he’s ever going to change and as such, the Reds should look to move him on.