Back in the 2013/14 Premier League season, Southampton had such a strong team as they went on to secure a respectable eighth place finish.
And in that team was central defender Dejan Lovren, a man who received a warm welcome to St. Mary’s following his arrival from Lyon prior to the start of that campaign.
@SouthamptonFC #lovren is a good player saw him play in France , i think EPL is perfect for him , fonte And him CAN be really interresting
— Lèandre Griffit (@elgdix) June 15, 2013
https://twitter.com/JerryDogtails76/status/345633057396645889
@SouthamptonFC great signing! COYR
— Luke Charles (@charlze7) June 14, 2013
@SouthamptonFC good signing #goingplaces
— Adam Randall (@ARandall92) June 14, 2013
@SouthamptonFC this is massive! Needed a quality young CB. Top work #welcomedejan
— Adam Collier (@AdamCollier9) June 14, 2013
@SouthamptonFC great stuff 😀
— Scott Davies (@ScottUPPSALA) June 14, 2013
@SouthamptonFC
Get in— Stuart durkin (@StueyDurks) June 14, 2013
Lovren, of course, has since go on to join Liverpool where he has not always enjoyed the best of times.
However, despite it being a short stint, Lovren’s spell at St. Mary’s can only be described as a success.
The 29-year-old was a consistent performer under Mauricio Pochettino at the heart of Southampton’s backline, putting in some colossal performances, performances Liverpool supporters probably have not seen enough of at Anfield.
From the centre of defence, Lovren was aerially dominant and strong with his tackling as he went on to become one of the leading centre-halves outside of the Premier League top four that season.
To Lovren’s credit, the above have not completely disappeared from his game even during difficult periods with the Croatia international bringing that and an overall aggressiveness to Liverpool’s side.
Rather, it is small errors and lapses in concentration that have seen Lovren decline rapidly as a defender with the former Lyon man no longer that solid defender Southampton supporters used to watch week in, week out.
