Martin Skrtel has backed summer signing Dejan Lovren to rediscover his best form with Liverpool FC.
The 30 year old Slovakian believes that Lovren is starting to show the quality that got the Reds to go get his services in the summer.
The Croatian has struggled greatly since his A?20m move from Southampton last summer. After a woeful start to his Anfield career, the 25-year-old found himself out of the team which coincided with Liverpool getting their their form during December and January. His replacement Mamadou Sakho was exceptional in his place and Sakho, Skrtel and makeshift defender Emre Can ensured Liverpool’s leaky defence was no more as porous as it had been at a time. Injury to Sakho however, has made Rodgers pick Liverpool’s most expensive defender of all time back into the team. Even though Lovren missed the crucial penalty in the Europa League shootout against Besiktas last week, his performance in the game at the back and his display against Manchester City on Sunday gave indications that the Croat is working hard to get his form back.
One of Liverpool’s most experienced players in the current squad and Lovren’s partner at the back, Martin Skrtel has backed the 25 year old to come good for the Reds.
a It wasna t easy for him after the game against Besiktas, because he missed the penalty,a he said. a But you cana t blame him for that; penalties are always a big risk and a lottery.
a Hea s the one who missed, but thata s football and thata s life. He responded well and played really well on Sunday, helping the team to get three points.
a I was glad for him because hea s a nice guy. I talk to him a lot, hea s my neighbour and Ia m glad hea s getting to the form that he was in at Southampton.
a Ita s not easy to come to a club like Liverpool, because ita s a big club and expectations are very high. Ita s not easy to come in and perform well from the first day until the last.
a In football and life you have bad days and better days – thata s normal. I believe Dejan will perform well. He is showing his quality every day in training and also in the games he has played. I just hope he will carry on this way until the end of the season.a
Sakho is fit now and is expected to be back in the Liverpool squad against Burnley on Wednesday night. However, it is likely that Rodgers persists with Lovren in the game and the Croatian should try and make the most of this opportunity.
