Dejan Lovren starred in Liverpool’s Champions League victory over Manchester City.
Former England defender Martin Keown has claimed in his Daily Mail ‘Tackle Keown’ column that he believes Dejan Lovren will prove crucial to the Reds’ Champions League chances – as he performs under pressure.
The 28-year-old Liverpool defender excelled as the Reds knocked Manchester City out of the Champions League on Tuesday, forming a brutal partnership with January signing Virgil van Dijk.
Liverpool earned a superb 5-1 aggregate victory over Pep Guardiola’s side, but Lovren’s form has improved since the arrival of his Dutch teammate. In the eight games the duo have teamed up, Liverpool have kept five clean sheets.
Keown believes the influence of van Dijk has boosted Lovren’s performances, but believes the Croat stars when under pressure and reckons that will help the Reds in their quest for the Champions League glory.
“Playing alongside Virgil van Dijk has doubtlessly helped,” Keown said. “Van Dijk is an excellent communicator and organiser, and having a partner like that is always going to take the pressure off you and make sure you are focused.
“But we need to give credit to the desire of Lovren. He always looks fired up in these big games, and that pressure gives him focus. When he doesn’t sense danger, he seems to relax and he can be caught out.
“Some defenders look smooth and composed on the front foot, but crumble under pressure: Lovren is the opposite, and that bodes well for Liverpool’s Champions League hopes.”
The Reds find out on Friday who they will face in the Champions League semi-finals, as the draw for the last four of the competition takes place in Switzerland at 1pm.
But focus for Lovren and indeed van Dijk switches to Saturday, as the Reds play host to Bournemouth at Anfield as they look to keep pressure on Manchester United in the top four.
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