Lovren: It's always great to beat United in whatever competition
Dejan Lovren fully understands the importance of Thursday’s Europa League meeting with arch-rivals Manchester United at Anfield.
The defender hopes Liverpool can continue their fine form with another strong showing in the first leg of the all-English tie in order to keep the Reds on track in the tournament.
The draw for the last-16 pitted the two clubs against each other for the first time ever in European competition but Lovren says picking up a victory over United in Europe would be just as sweet as always.
He told Liverpoolfc.com: “We are in good form so we have a lot of confidence and we just need to keep continuing to play like this and the result will come.
“It's an important game because it's a Europa League [match] and we want to go to the final. It's a special game because it's a derby and it's always great to beat Manchester United in whichever competition it will be.
“It will be a tough game. They have qualities [and] they have individual players who can score whenever they want so we just need to be concentrated.”
The Croatia international has been part of a back four that has only conceded two goals in their last six matches.
He suggests the impressive record has been aided by the high-pressing system and mentality that has been implemented by manager Jürgen Klopp and believes it was fully evident in Sunday’s unlikely 2-1 victory against Crystal Palace.
“It's a job from everyone,” Lovren added. “I think we've done quite well and the first defender is the striker upfront.
“It's great how we are in hard moments. [We] stick together and we never stop believing in ourselves, especially in the last game with 10 players.
“Everyone will say when you have a red card and one man down, you will lose 1-0 but we showed our skills and our character and we played until the end.”
Another European spectacle under the floodlights of Anfield awaits and the No.6 knows just what to expect from Kopites on Thursday night.
He said: “We had amazing support in the last two games, against Man City and Crystal Palace.
“They've been amazing but we don't need to say what [it] will be against Man United.
“We know it's a big derby and we know the fight through the history against the two teams so the fans, I think, will enjoy it.”