Reds defender ready for action

While Lovren is expected to pair up with Skrtel at the centre of Liverpool FC’s defence, manager Klopp would surely be feeling a bit uneasy about the fact that Sakho’s injury has left his side with little option at the back.

Former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers recruited Lovren from Southampton last summer as part of a £20million deal after just one impressive campaign in the Premier League the season before and has struggled for form at Anfield.

The No. 6 was called upon as a substitute during the Reds’ last gane – the home defeat by Crystal Palace – as Mamadou Sakho was forced off with an injury before half-time.

However, the Merseyside club conceded three goals in each of their next two games against West Ham United and Manchester United and Lovren was dropped by Rodgers for their next match against Bordeaux in the Europa League. “That can happen at times, but on the back of playing so well, to then go back to square one with that performance, put him in a bad light in the supporters” eyes.

“But Sakho will be a big blow for the manager because there haven’t been too many players who have been playing out of their skin but Sakho has certainly been one of the better ones”.

The Frenchman picked up a knee injury which will sideline him for around eight weeks, giving Lovren the opportunity to prove his worth to Klopp – starting away at Manchester City this weekend. He’s been one of the best performers this season.

Sakho’s replacement meanwhile, Dejan Lovren, knows he has a more limited amount of time in which to make the position in defence his own by impressing Klopp.

“It will be another chance for him but sooner or later, he needs to take them”, he added. “Maybe that will be a position he looks at in January”.

He wrote in his Liverpool Echo column: “I’m sure that Klopp and his backroom staff will have identified the things that have caused him to have the problems he’s had and they’ll look to rectify that. Whoever wins it will still continue to do big work, whoever it is”.