Why Dejan Lovren Is Under Pressure for Liverpool Following Win vs. West Brom

Liverpool recorded a much-needed first Premier League victory in four games, seeing off West Brom 2-1 at Anfield on Saturday courtesy of goals from Adam Lallana and Jordan Henderson.

Brendan Rodgers' side weren't at their fluent best but there were far more encouraging signs, especially from the goalscoring English midfield duo who were the standout performers for the Reds.

Lallana and Henderson each took their goals well, combining superbly for Lallana's first goal for the club shortly before half-time. Henderson drove the team on and put in a captain's performance to ensure the victory late on, even berating Steven Gerrard for not holding on to the ball in the closing stages.

Meanwhile, at the other end, defensive fragilities remained.

West Brom's goal arrived courtesy of Saido Berahino's spot-kick after Dejan Lovren was wrongly adjudged to have fouled the Baggies' Burundi-born frontman inside the box. Referee Michael Oliver got the call wrong but questions should be asked as to why Lovren felt the need to make the challenge in the manner he did.

The most concerning aspect is that the 25-year-old has made tackles of this nature frequently in his short Liverpool career so far and the warning signs have certainly been there.

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Lennon: Dejan Lovren does not convince me. He has looked cumbersome, laboured and he has been erratic in his decision-making today. #LFCvWBA

— BBC Radio 5 live (@bbc5live) October 4, 2014"

Lovren's performance is highlighted by Paul Natton of The Liverpool Way fanzine, noting that the Croat appears to be one of the players struggling with the weight of the shirt—much like Rickie Lambert. Natton highlighted Lovren's decision making and poor positioning. Discussing the Lovren who performed impressively last season for Southampton, to the one we're signing now, Natton wrote:

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In the bits and pieces I saw of him for Southampton last season he really looked the part: commanding on the floor and in the air, good with both feet and a genuine communicator. However, since joining us, he looks a pale shadow of the player we were hoping for.

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Having been talked up by Rodgers as Liverpool's new leader in defence, Lovren seems to be struggling to fill the mantle. "I’ve said since we lost Jamie Carragher that we needed that leadership," explained Rodgers. "He’s a player that gives us that." Thus far, he hasn't.

Instead, we've had rash challenges, misplaced passes and poor positioning and decision making. Lovren and Martin Skrtel together, both capable of making a challenge which leaves the supporter in the stand puzzled by why they felt the need to do so, let alone do so rashly, leave you thinking of comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. Right now at least, they're certainly not a partnership who fill you with confidence.

Sakho

Jon Super/Associated Press

Lovren has come in and replaced last summer's £18 million left-sided centre-back signing Mamadou Sakho. With £20 million spent on Lovren this summer, that's a rather substantial outlay for two players in the exact same position.

Some may have pondered whether Lovren would in fact be the player to be paired alongside Sakho on the right of the two centre-backs, but since Martin Skrtel's return from fitness the Slovakian has reclaimed his place as Liverpool's first choice centre-back—an oddity given that a little over 12 months ago he was well out of favour and being offered to leave the club.

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Lovren & Skrtel are far worse than Sakho but Rodgers has selected them as his preferred partnership. Can't make sense of it.

— Jay (@Jay82_LFC) September 27, 2014"

Given Rodgers' desire for a possession game, Skrtel and Lovren together is an odd pairing, neither appear comfortable on the ball, yet Sakho is one of the most adapt centre-back passing players in Europe, as wonderfully explained by This Is Anfield's Jack Lusby when he dispelled the myth that Sakho is "clumsy" in possession.

Sakho divides opinion, but he was clearly rated by Rodgers a year ago to spend such a figure on him, and he's rated at international level where he's first choice for France.

Fortunately for Lovren, at least, Sakho is currently out of favour and injured, according to Rodgers at least, following his exclusion from the squad and subsequent walkout prior to the Merseyside derby last week.

But regardless of your thoughts on Sakho, Lovren is certainly feeling the pressure and must improve.