Lovren: Defensive record down to team

Sunday's latest shut-out against Southampton was their fifth consecutive clean sheet away from home in the Barclays Premier League - the first time such a statistic has been achieved by the Reds since 1985.

Overall, Liverpool have recorded seven defensive blanks since the turn of the year, and Lovren feels team ethic is behind the steadfastness at the back.

"1985? Wow. It's definitely a proud achievement," the centre-back told Liverpoolfc.com. "It's been a long, long time since I heard something like this, so of course it is great to be a part of the team.

"In the last two-and-a-half to three months we've been doing so, so well - we've taken so many points. We are proud, but we don't need to stop here - we need to continue like this, work hard and focus on each game so we are confident.

"The basis from the start is that we are together - we are always like a team, in bad times and also in good times.

"The first couple of months didn't go so well, but now you can see the real shape of the team. Everything has settled down and the manager has solved everything. The bad times are behind us.

"I always say, it's not the four or five at the back who are about the defence - it is the whole team. A clean sheet is because of all of the players, from the strikers to the goalkeeper.

"Everyone is involved. We haven't conceded in the last couple of games, so we need to continue like this by defending and attacking together."

One man who has emerged as a key figure in Liverpool's defensive resurgence has been Simon Mignolet.

After a spell of starting four matches on the substitutes' bench in December, the goalkeeper has been in inspired form in recent weeks - leading to plenty of praise from colleagues, pundits and fans alike.

Lovren is in full agreement with such plaudits for Mignolet.

"He deserves credit," he said. "Simon has made some unbelievable saves in the last couple of games and he is a big part of this.

"Maybe when he was out for a couple of games on the bench, he realised what wasn't working. But it is a part of football and sometimes you need to see your mistakes, like myself, and afterwards you can learn and be better.

"Everyone had a difficult start to the season, but everything has settled down and when you win some games, you get confidence.

"Everyone here is a big talent and a big player, so it was just a matter of time. Now it is the perfect time for us to show it on the pitch and we need to continue like that until the end of the season."

On a personal level, Lovren was handed a starting berth for Liverpool in Sunday's win at Southampton - his former club.

The 25-year-old was deployed on the right of a three-man central defence and was satisfied with his St Mary's showing.

"I didn't play for a couple of games, but I was ready and I was ready on Sunday," Lovren stated. "It was a tough game against a good opponent.

"With a little bit of pressure because they are my ex-team and the fans [at St Mary's], I think I did quite well - but the most important thing is we won, three points and a clean sheet.

"When you win games, everyone around you is confident around you, including the defenders. When you come into the team when we are winning, it is easier than when you come into the team and you are losing."