Dejan Lovren: The Most Important Thing Is Not To Concede

Degsy is pretty happy with our one point against City in his return to the lineup.

It was almost a shame, for all that build up and anxiety going into it, for Liverpool to come out of their first match up against Manchester City for the year with only a nil-nil draw to show for it. We all know the Reds have been struggling in front of goal lately and it’s been endlessly frustrating, but a draw from one of our direct rivals right now seems decent. That’s what Dejan Lovren thinks, anyway. Lovren made his first start in the league on Sunday against City, and figures he has a pretty good idea of what the blue side of Manchester were expecting at Anfield.

“Man City knew they would have a tough game,” Lovren told the club website following the match.

“They knew we had won the last three games against them. What we were missing was a goal but there weren’t many chances. They had a penalty at the end, so when you look back it’s a good point.”

A draw against rivals can oftentimes feel like a defeat, but with an unbeaten record on the line, it’s pretty important to note that we didn’t actually lose and are still unbeaten in the league, and at Anfield (in the league, at least). It’s just a stark contrast when that draw is 0-0 as opposed something like 4-4 like it could’ve been. With chances from Degsy’s bestie Mohamed Salah failing to find the net, it just added to the frustration of the run and the afternoon.

“Usually it’s a game with many goals. Previously, it was always an interesting game. From both sides, it was good defensively – we were really compact from the beginning – but what we were missing was the goal, of course,” Lovren continued.

“In the last four games we have been struggling a little bit in front of goal. But nothing will change; we will work hard and I’m really confident in our team. The most important thing is not to concede.

“Maybe it’s a good time now to go to the internationals and to come back with fresher movements and fresher minds.”

Having played 7 matches in the span of less than a month looked to be taking it’s toll earlier in the week during the loss to Napoli in the Champions League. Jürgen Klopp has done his best to rotate the squad, it was really only the first true test of the rigors of the season ahead. The international break now ahead of us, focus can be on rest for most of the team and finger crossing for the other parts of the squad.

“We need to keep this race up until the end,” added Lovren. “It will be a tough season, for sure. Hopefully everyone will come back from the internationals without any injuries.”

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com