Liverpool 1-1 Napoli: Five things we learned as toothless Reds struggled

Dejan Lovren only scores big European goals

Lovren’s resurgence has been one of the most surprising things about this season and he was in the right place at the right time to make headlines on Wednesday night.

This was the Croatian’s first European goal since that famous win against Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League and it was nearly as badly needed. It could play a major role in helping the side progress to the last 16 of the competition in pole position to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Liverpool looked like they were drifting towards an unheard of defeat at Anfield against a side who are fighting their own hierarchy and drifting in Serie A. After Mertens scored their goal, Napoli looked happy to protect the lead and would have done without intervention from Lovren.

In a different world Degsy wouldn’t have been playing this game, but Joel Matip’s injury has dragged on and Gomez was picked at right-back. And so the world’s most underappreciated man got the call up and dragged the Reds back into the game.

He would have delighted with hitting the back of the net and can be guaranteed to be in the side for the Brighton game. Lovren isn’t always loved by the fans but after rescuing a draw for Klopp he is the toast of the town for at least a night.