Liverpool made a host of summer signings and I think it’s fair to say that they’ve been a mixed bag. There are a few that look to have potential (Adam Lallana, Alberto Moreno and Lazar Markovic) and there are others who are struggling to make an impact at their new club.
Specifically, I’m referring to Mario Balotelli, who hasn’t exactly been banging in the goals and Dejan Lovren, who’s proven to be an unreliable defensive presence.
During his time at Southampton, he quickly managed to build a reputation for being one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League. Because of his positional nous, he never seemed to get caught out and he was never rushed into making poor decisions. This, combined with his strength in the air and his industrious nature, helped The Saints to assert themselves as a major presence in English football once more.
Strangely enough, Dejan’s looked more pressurised this season, his decision-making faculties have been affected and his performances have suffered as a result. He’s not the imperious presence that he once was. That £20m price-tag is beginning to look more and more out of place.
As you might expect, former Liverpool centre-back and current Sky Sports pundit, Jamie Carragher, has shared his thoughts on the situation: “Lovren has not set the world alight. He came in for a big fee, and he has not quite done yet what he was brought to the club to do.
There have been a lot of eyes on him, which brings its own pressure, as does the price tag, and hopefully we will see the best of him between now and the end of the season. Going into next season, like we have seen with his defensive partner Mamadou Sakho, we should start seeing the best of him.” (Source: The Metro)
Of course, Jamie Carragher doesn’t note that Lovren already had Premier League experience, whilst Sakho did not.
Still, it would be foolish to chew him out properly until he’s had at least a season and a half at his new club. It does take time to settle into new surroundings, learn new systems and gel with your team-mates.
As such, he’s got the benefit of the doubt for now. The clock is ticking!
What’s your take? Is Dejan Lovren still a man that’s worth backing?
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