Lovren: Liverpool working much harder for Klopp

Ian Watson

Dejan Lovren says every one of Liverpool’s players have “changed their opinion of football” since the appointment of Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.

Lovren admits his spell at Liverpool has been “up and down” but, fresh from an assured performance in the Reds’ 4-1 win at Manchester City last weekend, the Croatian is set to make his 50th appearance for the club in Thursday night’s Europa League tie against Bordeaux.

Liverpool have lost only of their eight games since Klopp took over, having claimed only one win in nine games before that under Brendan Rodgers.

Lovren accepts the poor results were not solely down to the Northern Irishman, but he says defending is much easier in Klopp’s team.

He said: “I don’t want to talk about the past. It was not just the manager’s fault. It was us, the players, too. I want to forget it and just concentrate on the future.

“I think it is much easier to defend now because we are working much harder than before. We are, I would say, playing like a team now with everyone feeling comfortable. There were a couple of changes when I first came to the club and so many players have gone now. It feels like two different teams.

“It is always easier when a manager has belief in your team and in yourself. It makes it much easier to play and gives you the confidence that, even if you make a mistake, afterwards he will talk to you and explain to you the wrong things and the good things.

“Every one of the players has changed their opinion of football. We are like he said we should be – we need to be living football and the job 24 hours a day and we will get payback for everything on the pitch.”

On his time at Anfield so far, Lovren added: “I would say it has been ups and downs but the most important thing is the present.

“I am feeling settled and happy in the club and I think the most important thing is we are playing well. I have been tested so many times in my life, even at other clubs, and this is just another school for me to learn at.

“When I am in bad situations I have great people around supporting me. I came here to be a standard player of Liverpool, not to be on the bench. There is no more pressure on me now. I need to go step by step and my performances will speak for me.”

Asked whether Klopp or his own performances in training and against Manchester City are to thank for his renewed confidence, Lovren said: “It is a little bit of both. Of course the manager has had a big influence on the team and on everyone.”