Dejan Lovren became Liverpool’s most expensive defender in history in the summer of 2014 just gone and was drafted in to the squad by Brendan Rodgers in a £20m move in the hope that he would be the man to finally solve the defensive issue that has hindered the Reds for a considerable number of years.
Unfortunately here we are in January of the New Year, with the same concern seemingly un-resolved and still becoming an ever-increasingly heavy burden on the club.
Sure, the likes of Martin Skrtel and Mamadou Sakho are capable of consistent, strong and dependable performances, the latter the more likely, and the composure and versatility Emre Can is beginning to be incorporated as an ‘option’ at the back going forward. But goals are still being leaked far too easily and teams are often finding it relatively straight forward to face the Reds last line of defence, effortlessly scoring at times, even if they don’t win the game as such.
The Croatian 25-year-old centre half, Lovren, arrived after an exceptional season with Southampton last year and was delighted with reports that the Reds were after him in the summer. Lovren featured in a triumphant and emphatic 4-0 friendly win over Borussia Dortmund at Anfield and was the commanding centre back we all expected him to be. Those at the game will agree that, although it was a friendly, he impressed ardently.
Nevertheless, this kind of performance has not been replicated at the times where we needed it most, and people are beginning to question his value at the club.
Lovren was quoted in October saying to the media that “a lot of things are not right at the moment” but went on to state that “it will come”. He then told reporters that we needed to “be more compact, to run more and be like one player on the pitch, all together”.
The debate now continues to blossom regarding whether Dejan Lovren will be a success on Merseyside, whether he will find his confidence and his best form to prove to everyone associated with Liverpool Football Club that he is the right man. Please feel free to provide your opinion in the comments below.
The fact of the matter is this. Lovren cost £20m and was bought under the impression and amongst the understanding that he would command the Liverpool defence for years to come, to defend in the Champions League and fight for Premier League titles. Yes last season may have been our best shot at glory for some time, but the summer and its signings were all about consolidating the club status that we had created ourselves last year.
We have already dropped way below what we had created and now the work begins to get back there again.
Liverpool cannot yet accept defeat with Lovren. The man has so much to offer the club and the issue is regarding confidence and backing, not talent. The potential is there, and he has to have the support to reach it.
