After 44 games without a loss, Liverpool tasted defeat against Watford on Saturday at Vicarage Road.
Whilst the Reds bossed possession, making 732 passes to their opponents’ 299, they were toothless in front of goal. They were able to muster up just one shot on target, whilst their opponents managed seven. The final score of 3-0 was just reward for the Hornets, who were by far the better team.
This match saw Dejan Lovren’s first appearance in the Reds’ starting line-up in 2020, coming in in place of Joe Gomez. The 23-year-old has been in fantastic form alongside Virgil van Dijk at the heart of Liverpool’s defence – they have kept nine clean sheets in their last 11 matches in the Premier League – meaning that the Croatia international had big shoes to fill.
He failed to replace the presence of the former Charlton man. Whilst he did make three tackles and three interceptions, he won just six from 13 duels, gave away two fouls and was dispossessed 22 times. Troy Deeney effectively said after the match that his team’s game-plan was to target the 30-year-old, and it was a tactic that ended up working a treat.
Watch Liverpool Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below
Over the past year or so, there have been plenty of rumours that the £18m-valued former Lyon centre-back – as per Transfermarkt – could be on his way out of the club. AC Milan were believed to be heavily interested in him last summer, but he ended up remaining at Anfield. And even more recently, it was said he could be part of an exodus in a few months.
It is time to show Lovren the door. He is a player that often frustrates fans, and it cannot be good for Jurgen Klopp to see an opposition player openly admit that he is seen as their weak link. As the Reds look to progress and stay on top, there is no place for players who are holding the rest of the side back. After six years in Merseyside, it must surely be time to say goodbye.
Meanwhile, there have been rave reviews for this Liverpool target with “incredible technique”.