Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has said he will continue with the solid back four that last week earned his side a clean sheet against Stoke City, which also means handing a second start to defender Dejan Lovren.
The Croatian, who suffered a dreadful season at Anfield last year, will start alongside Martin Skrtel in the Reds’ first game of the season at Anfield if Rodgers’ quotes in the Echo are to go by.
“I thought that back four last week were exceptional,” said Rodgers.
“I thought he (Lovren) was very, very good last week. I think it’s confidence. I felt – and I said it last year – in his second year he’ll be a better player here.”
A figure of ridicule and bile from Liverpool fans last year, Lovren put in a confident, assured display in a game that Liverpool went on to win last week, thanks to a Philippe Coutinho stunner, and Rodgers is keen to keep the momentum going ahead of a potentially sticky home game against Bournemouth.
Ahead of the game, Rodgers spoke of the options he currently has in defence and why he has decided to continue with the defence that performed admirably last week.
“We’ve got excellent players here in Sakho, Kolo, but centre-halves will tell you it’s about finding that comfort with a partner, that partnership. And I thought the two centre-halves were very good last week and Dejan in particular where he’s aggressive, good in the air, his reading of the game was good and his passing was simple but effective,” said Rodgers.
“I think he’s gained confidence in pre-season and hopefully that will be maintained.”
Rodgers, like Lovren, has had a tough time over the past year, with his team performances and results not reflecting the progress that was mad the season before.
With this being the case, the manager brought in new right-back Nathanial Clyne for the weary Glen Johnson, and the Ulsterman gave a little insight into what he sees as crucial to Clyne’s game:
“You had Nathaniel Clyne coming in who’s a top defender anyway, very rarely gets beaten, super quick, his covering positions for a young defender is outstanding.
“There was one moment where the ball’s on the far side, he’s got a player outside him but he recognises and smells danger quickly, jumps inside and makes the header away.
“For a lot of teams that’s a goal against you so we’ve got players who want to defend first and foremost which is key to keeping clean sheets and from that you’ve got the platform to play.”
Liverpool take on Bournemouth on Monday looking to keep a clean sheet and build on their resolute, battling display at the Britannia Stadium last week.
