A number of Liverpool fans were stunned by the inclusion of Dejan Lovren in the team’s best XI for the season so far, according to WhoScored.
As noted by @AnfieldEdition on Twitter, the football statistics platform which uses a series of metrics to analyse players’ performances includes five defenders among the Reds’ top 10 players so far in 2019/20, with only two midfielders making the cut.
Statistically Liverpool’s best XI of the season according to @WhoScored:
Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Keita, Salah, Firmino, Mane (5-2-3)
Thoughts?
— Anfield Edition (@AnfieldEdition) March 23, 2020
According to WhoScored‘s algorithm, Lovren has been Liverpool’s eighth best player this season, with an average match rating of 7.14 – higher than the likes of Andrew Robertson (7.12), Georginio Wijnaldum (6.87), Fabinho (6.83), Alisson (6.75), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (6.73) and James Milner (6.57). Along with Joel Matip, the Croatian centre-back has won the most headers per game with 5.1, while his average of 4.4 clearances per game is the third highest in Jurgen Klopp’s squad (as per WhoScored).
However, the 30-year-old could be on his way out of Anfield this summer, with the Liverpool Echo claiming that he may leave as part of a projected squad overhaul, news that was welcomed by many Reds fans. Lovren had a night to forget in the defeat to Watford last month, his performance slammed by pundit Andy Gray, who said that he was “ragdolled” by Troy Deeney, while the Daily Star‘s Joshua Peck felt that he “struggled against Deeney’s power and the pace of [Ismaila] Sarr”.
These Liverpool fans on Twitter could not believe that the Croatian was included in the team’s best statistical XI of the season:
lovren, delete it
— Sean (@SeanDOlfc) March 23, 2020
Stopped reading at Lovren
— Grego (@Grego718) March 23, 2020
I’m guessing lovrens in this due to the small sample size
— ?Ethan (@Ethan_Drew_) March 23, 2020
Swap Lovren for anyone else
— Jamie-LFC-90 (@JamieLFC901) March 23, 2020
Remove Lovlen, put Gin. 4:3:3
— Lubala Samson (@Shilton19901) March 24, 2020
Lovren? Yeah this is fake lol
— Kizzster (@Kizzster) March 23, 2020
I’ll say it again
LOVREN HAHAHAHAHAAHAHA
— ?? (@BSSLFC) March 23, 2020
Liverpool fans, were you surprised to see Lovren being classified as one of the team’s better performers s so far this season? Comment below with your views!
