CB Dejan Lovren
Lovren will continue to retain his place so long that he’s fit and fine. Barring a inconceivable cratering of form– wait, it is Lovren, it’s happened before, it’s possible.
But for now Lovren has certainly earned the trust of Klopp, the media and fans, though only one opinion in that treble matters and it’s not the tertiary entity.
That goal he scored against Dortmund to complete the comeback, man, it still gives me goosebumps. It never won’t, the same way watching highlights from the 2005 Champions League final or the Steven Gerrard FA Cup final.
When the ball floated in the air, I had a weird sense of optimism. It’s the Klopp effect.
Since Liverpool finished 2nd in 2008/09, there was absolutely nothing to suggest that they’d complete that comeback. There was equity gained from some great years in the 2000s which is what sets it apart from the aberration that was 2013/14.
But when the ball was floated to the back stick by James Milner, even before the camera panned to whoever was waiting to compete in the air for it, I thought “goal.”
And a goal it was, followed by an absolutely brilliant celebration as he passionately ran to the corner and jumped on his butt and bounced like he didn’t just land on grass.
Next: LB Alberto Moreno