Dejan Lovren Proves Depth of Character in Liverpool’s Draw with Southampton

ST. MARY’S STADIUM, Southampton — It is unlikely Liverpool will endure many more frustrating afternoons in the current campaign than Saturday’s 0-0 draw away to Southampton, with a stoic defensive display from Claude Puel’s Saints successfully stymieing the in-form Reds.

Jurgen Klopp led his side to Hampshire in torrential rain, with both the roof and the floodlights at St. Mary’s tested as winter set in on the south coast, while Liverpool’s attack produced a barrage of their own, firing 15 shots on Fraser Forster’s goal.

Despite Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho, Sadio Mane, Emre Can and Nathaniel Clyne all having great chances to break the deadlock, the Reds left Southampton with a single point—and while they preserved their place at the top of the Premier League table for at least 24 hours, they will have left disappointed.

However, while much of the post-match praise was lavished on Puel’s well-drilled back line, and Forster’s shot-stopping prowess, Liverpool’s second clean sheet in the league in 2016/17 was certainly commendable.

At the heart of this was one of the Reds’ four ex-Saints, Dejan Lovren, making his fifth appearance against his former club—and time certainly hasn’t dampened the vitriol sent his way from the stands of his old home stadium, with his every touch met with a deluge of jeers from those wearing red and white stripes.

One of the key subplots to play out as Liverpool extended their unbeaten run to 10 games in the league and 13 in all competitions, this presented a major test for the Croatian and underlined the progress he has made since making the £20 million move to Merseyside in the summer of 2014.

A clean sheet serves as vindication, as Lovren proved the depth of his character with an assured, combative display against the club who brought him across the Channel three years ago. 

Almost three months on from their last—and, so far this season, only—defeat, away to Burnley on Aug. 20, Liverpool enjoyed a similar level of dominance on the road against Southampton.

Along with their 15 shots on goal, the Reds saw 64.5 percent of possession, with Puel opting for a more defensive approach against the league leaders.

Confirmed #LFC team to face @SouthamptonFC: Karius, Clyne, Matip, Lovren, Milner, Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum, Coutinho, Mane, Firmino #SOULIV

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 19, 2016

Klopp set his side up in his regular 4-3-3 formation, with Loris Karius keeping his place in goal behind a back four featuring Lovren, Clyne, Joel Matip and James Milner, while the absence of Adam Lallana saw Georginio Wijnaldum drafted into midfield alongside Can …

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