11 Apr 2015

Zero to Hero: Rodgers hails struggling £20m misfit for 'outstanding' performance against Blackburn

After conceding six goals in two games, Liverpool bounced back against Blackburn with another clean sheet - the club's fourth in six games - and Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has singled out one of the club's most maligned players for individual praise.

In his pre-Newcastle press conference this morning, Rodgers hailed the 'very good' defensive performance at Ewood Park, and reserved his trademark praise for struggling defender Dejan Lovren:

"It was important for us to defend well, and I thought Dejan Lovren was outstanding on the evening"

Lovren - the most expensive defender in Liverpool's history - did a good job on the night, but to be fair, he - like Sterling, Henderson et al - should be playing well against lower-league opposition.

Lovren basically did his job, something he's failed to do on many occasions this season, and in my view, the 'outstanding' label is (as usual) unwarranted.

Prior to signing Lovren, I argued that he'd be under the most intense pressure, and that's exactly what's happened. After last season's defensive shambles, everyone expected Lovren to come in and change everything overnight, but that didn't transpire, and he consequently got it in the neck for failing to be LFC's saviour.

Excuses aside, Liverpool need Lovren to come good, and Reds legend John Aldridge - who previously labelled Lovren the biggest transfer 'disappointment' of the summer - has urged the defender to up his game. This week, he told the Liverpool Echo:

"Lovren needs to sort himself out, and quickly. He needs to work his way back into the team, and make sure he stays there with his performances. He’s a £20m signing. We need him on the pitch, not the bench".

After spending £20m in the summer, splurging even more of the club's limited transfer funds on another central defender is not a practical solution, so if Lovren achieves consistency, it'll potentially save the clubs tens of millions during the upcoming transfer window.

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39 comments:

  1. Am I the only one who realized he's been our most expensive defender in history? Nonetheless, he did good out there.

    Thanks to AVL win over Tottenham, we now only have to compete with Southampton, and hopefully tomorrow we come out with a win.

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  2. He was fantastic and if it werent for Lucas injury and Gerrard playing anchor he would adapt faster and be the beast he WAS at Soton and showed vs Blackburn the level he actually IS! Lad never forgot how to play...

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  3. 'Was outstanding, ON THE EVENING'

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  4. Do you comment on anything but Lovren's situation?

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  5. The rumour going round is after Rodgers comments Lovren and his agent are trying to negotiate an improved contract

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  6. Well things maybe fell in place?

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  7. Just saying it is not undesrved praise.

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  8. You're complimenting Lovren? That's a first ;)

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  9. First time he deserved it? Yes..

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  10. Better late than never they say.
    maybe it becomes a somewhat of a habbit :D

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  11. Theycallmemrburt10:08 pm, April 11, 2015

    spot on. BR's insistence in playing Gerrard early on ruined our season. His decline has been alarming but then there are a lot of players who have performed below their usual standards due to their exerts at the world cup.

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  12. Nobody would dare to touch Gerrard before his sending off vs Man Utd which in a sense showed his season in a whole- brash, reckless, sloppy and slow,.. It's monumentaly unfair to single out Lovren for his mid season outings, nobody in defence coped with Gerrad's cover and Lucas's absence which Allen poorly tried to cover- injury prone Sakho, midfielder by trade Can or slow Skrtel- until Rodgers patched it up with three at the back and two anchors in the mid to prevent leaking; two Cannavaro's and a Beckenbauer in the middle wouldn't have covered for terrible formation. YNWA

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  13. Theycallmemrburt10:19 pm, April 11, 2015

    I'm worried about two things no.1 reverting to a back four and then playing Martin skrtel in the hope he carries on his majestic form he has shown in a back three. Skrtel goes from the ridiculous to the sublime depending on whether he plays in a 4 or a 3.

    no.2 Coutinho being shoved out on the wing if we play a back four also worries me unless that is we bring about a return of the Christmas tree formation (4-3-2-1) which In many ways I'd be intrigued to see.

    depending on the system we either have potential world beaters or also rans.

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  14. Theycallmemrburt10:23 pm, April 11, 2015

    agree 100%. I was kinda hoping Balotelli came out in the press and lambasted Gerrard for his crazy sending off against the scum in the same way Gerrard did to him for taking (and scoring ) that penalty. At the very least I hope Gerrard realises he's not without sin.

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  15. Still think Brendan overused him so he can discard him.

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  16. we all do- it's been a long time coming... :)

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  17. Of course! I still believe in Lovren-Sakho partnership in a back-four- can can move to the right back or centre midfield if needed, and with Lucas, Allen and Hendo there are a lot of options in thebox-to-box midfielder department... just look what happened vs Blackburn; Championship team-yes, but the one that raped us in the before Christmas, now it's different, so what changed :D

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  18. Good theory...Maybe he knew Gerrard's a "has been" and just waited for him to slip up ;)

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  19. This season. And I am serious..

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  20. Sick of inconsistency form by most of our big money transfer players who can't handle pressure or not good enough so.

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  21. LS and Gerrard used to bring believe & consistency into the team but now I can't see that happening without a top charismatic player in our team.

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  22. All I see in our team now is inconsistent, injury prone and few going to be top player in future.

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  23. Very good assesment !

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  24. outstanding
    aʊtˈstandɪŋ/
    adjective
    adjective: outstanding
    1.
    exceptionally good."the team's outstanding performance"synonyms:excellent, marvellous, magnificent, superb, fine, wonderful, superlative, exceptional, formidable, first-class, first-rate, virtuoso, skilful, masterful, masterly; More

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  25. Fair assessment Lovren did his job. He did what he was supposed to do. In reality he had an ok game against Blackburn where he didn't pull up any trees or anything. He mistimed a jump for a header which nearly led to Blackburn scoring if it weren't for Toures late challenge. He needs up his game a level in the Prem to justify that price tag. Also if he does play his way into the first team what does mean for Sakho as their both left footed?...

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  26. Shocking and totally unnecessary and unfair comment

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  27. lovren tries but just doesn't have the ability ...for a big man he gets beaten in the air quite a lot and he has very limited ball control ...he would do well at bury or some where its backs to the wall football but hell struggle at the top teams because he lacks the concentration needed to be without the ball for long periods and then say be under the cosh for 5mins which is what happens playing for a top team

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  28. Oh hello Sakho grouppie

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  29. Totally unfair the same thing could be said of Sakho, Skrtel, hell even Terry or Chiellini- you don't know what you're talking about.

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  30. I'm a fan of good players.

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  31. Yeah, when Lovren actually DID that he was meet with uniformed scorn of Liverpool players, staff and the community... But let's blame Lovren what the heck ;)

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  32. And Lovren apparently.

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  33. ...who is a good player. Your point being?

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  34. hes a mid table player worth 8milltops

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