Rio Ferdinand insisted Dejan Lovren will not be able to win back his place in the Liverpool team due to the burgeoning partnership of Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez.
The Manchester United legend claimed on BT Sport’s live coverage of Liverpool’s 3-2 Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night that he does not see a way back into the XI for Lovren.
The Croatian has missed the opening five weeks of the season due to a pelvic injury and is close to regaining his fitness.
“Lovren’s not playing again in this team when they’re both fit,” Ferdinand said on BT Sport in a discussion after the match about Liverpool’s defenders.
"Lovren's not getting back in this team!" ?@rioferdy5 and John Arne Riise think Van Dijk and Gomez are the perfect match ? pic.twitter.com/yV6eyiOAZA
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 18, 2018
OPINION
Only a few months back, Lovren was hailing himself as one of the best defenders in the world after Croatia knocked England out of the World Cup and he followed up a Champions League final place with a slot in the biggest fixture on the planet. Certainly, the 29-year-old has had an outstanding and memorable calendar year and he was integral to both Liverpool and Croatia reaching the final stage of their respective competitions. But time waits for no man in elite football and the senior centre-back’s injury opened the door for Gomez in the middle of the Liverpool defence. How the 21-year-old has risen to the occasion. Starting all six of Liverpool’s matches this season, the youngster has belied his tender years with a series of outstanding displays that have been hailed by all comers, with Ferdinand the latest pundit to trumpet him as the real deal. The truth is top teams need an abundance of quality options in all positions, and Lovren could be back in the XI for the League Cup tie against Chelsea next week.