Liverpool: This is the back four we want against West Ham

By David Gate | Feb 22, 2018

BURNLEY, ENGLAND - JANUARY 01: Dejan Lovren of Liverpool and Emre Can of Liverpool celebrate there sides second goal of the game during the Premier League match between Burnley and Liverpool at Turf Moor on January 1, 2018 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images) /

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Dejan Lovren clears the ball from Mesut Ozil of Arsenal. (Pic by Julian Finney for Getty Images) /

Center Back: Dejan Lovren

There is an excellent case to be made for starting Joel Matip this weekend. Virgil van Dijk will easily be able to handle the physical side of the defense meaning the Reds do not need to double up on strong defenders and headers of the ball.

Liverpool will have the lion’s share of the possession against the Hammers. That will also lend to playing Matip over Lovren; the Cameroonian is certainly the better ball player of the two.

However I want Klopp to stick with Lovren and I think the manager will agree. Lovren played at the top of his level against Porto. He was instrumental in the first half as an early block kept the game at 0-0 before Liverpool took charge.

The question is will Klopp settle on a regular partner for the Dutchman for the last dozen games of the season or will he chop and change for the remainder of the year?

I would like to see him commit to one of the two – much like he has done for Loris Karius in goal – and Lovren is pipping Matip on recent displays.

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