Brendan: You're seeing a different Dejan
A more confident and relaxed approach to his responsibilities has allowed Dejan Lovren to make an impressive start to the season, according to Brendan Rodgers.
The Liverpool centre-back has turned in three solid performances at the outset of 2015-16 to help the Reds navigate 270 minutes of football without conceding a goal.
Keeping consecutive clean sheets has been the foundation of Rodgers’ side taking seven points out of nine so far, with the same back four fielded in each fixture.
Lovren’s form at the centre of that defence has especially caught the eye after a testing debut campaign for the Croatia international following his move last summer.
Rodgers said: “Like a lot of players, it was difficult in the first year coming in. There was a lack of stability in the overall group. It was a case of reassuring him that he’s still a top-quality player.
“What has really helped him has been the full-backs on either side – how quickly they close the game when we lose the ball, that transition, either to get the ball back or close the space.
“You saw examples from the other night. When the pitch was open we tried to play and when the game breaks down, how quickly it’s closed.
“[Nathaniel] Clyne and [Joe] Gomez on the sides really help the centre-halves.
“For him, he’s much more patient in his game. He has got the stability of playing. He is now in the team and he’s in the team because he had a good pre-season.
“He’s in good condition fitness-wise and you’re seeing someone that is focused but a little bit more relaxed in his position.
“We brought him here because we believe he can be a top-class defender; at this early stage, that partnership between him and Martin [Skrtel] is proving that.”
The manager believes Lovren’s experiences during his first season at Anfield will ultimately prove to be beneficial for the defender who was signed from Southampton.
In fact, Rodgers told the No.6 exactly that while it was happening.
“I spoke to him last season,” the Northern Irishman continued. “I said that it would be a great learning year for him.
“There’s no doubt your confidence can be affected but what he has continued to do is to work very hard. He listens and learns. He still knows he needs to improve elements of his game.
“But I think you’re seeing that confidence in his game and that stature that he has. I think over the course of this season you’ll see a different player.”
With the Liverpool backline being unchanged since the opening game at Stoke City, fellow centre-half Mamadou Sakho is awaiting his first minutes on the pitch.
But as he previewed the visit of West Ham United on Saturday, the boss revealed that the Frenchman is redoubling his efforts to ensure he’s prepared for any chance to feature.
Rodgers added: “Mama is an important part of our squad.
“At the moment he’s not in the team but he’s working hard in training and hopefully looking to do everything he possibly can so when the opportunity does come – because invariably it does come somewhere in the season – that you’re ready to take the opportunity.”