Lovren is a perfect defender - Klopp

Published on: 24 April 2018

Jurgen Klopp believes Dejan Lovren is a "genetically" perfect central defender and insists he is entirely convinced about the Croatia international's talents.

Lovren endured a difficult start to his Anfield career after moving from Southampton in 2014 and earlier this season he was substituted 31 minutes into Liverpool's defeat to Tottenham at Wembley for an error-strewn performance.

But Klopp says he has always had faith in the 28-year-old, who is set to partner Virgil van Dijk in defence for Liverpool's Champions League semifinal with Roma on Tuesday, ever since taking charge of the Reds in October 2015.

"I don't exactly know about Dejan's start at Liverpool but he made a few mistakes," he told the Guardian. "People always have that in mind: 'Oh, Lovren again!'

"But I'm long in the business. I said to Dejan: 'If somebody told me, come on, you have the chance, create a centre-half. We found a way to do it, genetically, bam, bam, bam.' That's him, strong, quick, both feet, can head like crazy, jumps through the roof. He's all you need.

"Yes, a few things you can improve -- his concentration for example. But these are human beings. Other centre-halves make mistakes.

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"Against City, Virgil van Dijk, an outstanding person and fantastic player, should have cleared the ball before they scored. Virgil knows that. But nobody spoke about it because we won.

"It doesn't look like it but I'm really relaxed in judging these things. When I see talent, and I'm convinced, I am calm."

Loris Karius is another Liverpool player who has continued to have the backing of his manager despite a number of costly errors made.

The goalkeeper is now first choice under the sticks at Anfield after being dropped for Simon Mignolet partway through the 2016-17 season -- his first at Liverpool since moving from Mainz.

"There are some really difficult things in Liverpool," Klopp added. "The whole Liverpool family is not happy with not winning big trophies since whenever -- so you always find a reason. 'The problem is we don't spend enough.' Or, 'The players make mistakes.'

"So, really, it's a difficult job to be Liverpool's goalkeeper. I'm not sure who was the last goalkeeper everybody was happy with here. It would be a while ago. And if you are not Sami Hyypia then your life as a defender is also difficult."

Source: espn.co.uk

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