Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has opened up about the aftermath of his decision to substitute Dejan Lovren after just half an hour during their 4-1 loss to Tottenham in October.
The Croatia international was at fault for Tottenham’s two opening goals that day, with Harry Kane grabbing the first before Son Heung-min doubled their lead, and Klopp took the decision to haul the 28-year-old off the pitch.
The German mastermind has now revealed that he did not speak to Lovren for several days after the flashpoint, with the 50-year-old seething at the team’s performance, and believes that it was a moment of truth for the enforcer.
In an interview with the Mirror, he said: “The Tottenham game I was angry. It wasn’t I was saying, ‘boys, never mind it can happen, forget about it’. Not even one per cent of that. I was really angry.
“I took Dejan off after 25 minutes and I didn’t speak to him afterwards. But then a few days later I saw him waiting for my talk, so I said, come in. ‘You took me off after 20 minutes’. Because you were bad.
“But I said to him – maybe this was the decisive moment when he got it – I think he’s a world class centre half, 100 per cent. Yes with weakness, concentration can happen from time to time, could be harder here, whatever. But he is a world class centre half, otherwise he would not be here any more.”
OPINION
It is interesting to hear Klopp’s perspective on this incident, which was a low point in a season of highs for Liverpool. No one really begrudged Klopp of the decision at the time, with Lovren at a low ebb in the minds of Reds fans and quite clearly going through a horrific patch of form. The Croatia international has however kicked on from that flashpoint and really transformed his game ever since, with many fans now loving the 28-year-old’s newfound attitude (and his blossoming friendship with Mo Salah). Lovren is now a nailed-on starter for Liverpool, and is set to line up alongside Virgil van Dijk when the Reds face Real Madrid in the Champions League final on Saturday. If the club come out on top in that one it will not only be a brilliant story of redemption for Liverpool but also for Lovren, who looked down and out after that day in north London.
