Dejan Lovren: I told Ox his second goal was lucky!
Dejan Lovren expects Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to build on his morale-boosting, two-goal display against Genk.
The midfielder came in for his fifth start of the season in Liverpool’s 4-1 Champions League victory in Belgium on Wednesday, and marked his return to the XI with a brace.
A low strike arrowed into the bottom corner from distance put the Reds ahead early on, before Oxlade-Chamberlain produced a sublime, outside-of-the-boot finish in the second half.
The match at KRC Genk Arena represented the No.15’s first Champions League appearance since the 2017-18 semi-final first leg versus AS Roma – and Lovren was delighted to see his teammate performing on Europe’s grandest stage again.
“I’m really glad to see Ox score two goals, even if I told him the second one was lucky … he didn’t accept that!” the centre-back said.
“[It’s] great for his confidence and overall he needed that after he did not have so many minutes this season and the injury for last season. It’s great to have him back.”
The victory over Genk was the European champions’ first pool-stage away win since October 2017 and consolidated their position in Group E’s top two.
Lovren continued: “When you look back we are not the best away team in the Champions League. I don’t like to say that but it’s the reality.
“We needed this win, especially because it is quite tight in the group at the moment and we are still have to play Salzburg away. It will still be tough but let’s keep this quality.”