Dejan Lovren: This is what Liverpool need to do to be champions

DEJAN Lovren’s reaction to scoring summed up Liverpool’s battle to become serious title contenders.

By Ian Winrow                                 

Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren thinks the Reds need to beat the small teams to finish high

The Croatian centre-back admitted he was ready to explode after cancelling out his early shocker that gifted Crystal Palace a route into the game.

Lovren made up for his blunder but the defender’s personal conflict mirrored the strengths of weaknesses of Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Deadly going forward – Lovren reckons playmaker Philippe Coutinho is the best player in the country at the moment - they again looked vulnerable at the back at times.

Klopp and his players know they must strike a better balance if they are going to bring the title back to Anfield for the first time since 1990.

Lovren said: “If you want to be in the top four at the end of the season or be champion, you need to win the smaller games and even the next game against Watford.

“And then we will see against the big teams. But I think we have shown this year that we can play against the big teams, we are not scared.

 

 

Joel Matip heads home for Liverpool

“I think the biggest opponent for us is us.”

He added: “When I scored, I was angry. I was definitely angry.

“The lads asked me in the dressing room, ‘What did you want to do when you scored the goal?’. I said I wanted to jump into the crowd. I don’t know why.

“I didn’t know what to do. Because I would say I didn’t deserve this. I said to myself it’s not possible, I am working too hard to do a mistake and to lose the game.

“I just forgot and I keep on moving on and I said I was angry and I wanted to score the goal.”

If Lovren and his team-mates keep that anger, they will be in with a shout – especially if Coutinho maintains this form.

Roberto Firmino celebrates scoring Liverpool's fourth

The Brazilian was the architect of Emre Can’s early opener, and crossed for Lovren and Joel Matip’s first half headers before Jordan Henderson took over the reins to play in Roberto Firmino for a superb fourth.

Twice Palace pegged the Reds back through James McArthur headers but Liverpool were simply too strong.

Lovren said: “In my opinion, yes, of course (Coutinho is the best player in league now). I have the pleasure to play with this guy. But it’s not an individual thing, it’s the team work today.”

A third successive defeat means Palace head to Burnley next week knowing they need to tighten up if they are to halt their current slide.

McArthur said: “We need to work on our defensive play. More and more pressure is on us with each game we don’t win.

“But there is belief in the changing room we can go to Burnley and get a result and from there it hasn’t been a bad start to the season. We can do that.

   

 

“Pressure is part and parcel of being a footballer. It’s the Premier League, you go on great runs, everyone expects you to win games and you obviously get a couple of bad results.

“One win changes everything and kicks you on for the rest of the season.”

CRYSTAL PALACE (4-2-3-1): Mandanda 7; Ward 5, Dann 4, Tomkins 4, Kelly 6; Cabaye 5, Ledley 6 (Puncheon 74); Zaha 6, MCARTHUR 8 (Campbell 86), Lee 6 (Townsend 66, 6); Benteke 7.
Subs: Hennessey, Flamini, Fryers, Delaney.
UP NEXT: Burnley (a), Premier League, Saturday.

LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Karius 6; Clyne 6, Matip 6, Lovren 5, Moreno 7; Can 7, Henderson 8; Mane 5 (Origi 89), Lallana 7 (Wijnaldum 75), COUTINHO 9; Firmino 8.
Subs: Mignolet, Sturridge, Klavan, Lucas, Randall
UP NEXT: Watford (h), Premier League, Sunday.

Referee: Andre Marriner 6.

Star Player: PHILIPPE COUTINHO – At times the Brazilian was unstoppable.
Star Shocker: JAMES TOMKINS – Never got to grips with Liverpool’s frontmen.
dailystar.co.uk