Lovren: I'll show everyone that they are wrong!

Dejan Lovren says he is raring to go this pre-season so he can win over his doubters and “show everyone that they are wrong”.

The Croatian defender endured a tough first season at Anfield after his big money move from Southampton, but feels that a good pre-season this summer will see him return to the form that persuaded the Reds to pay £20m for his services.

Speaking to LFCTV GO ahead of Liverpool’s opening pre-season friendly against a Thailand XI this afternoon, Lovren said: “I didn’t do pre-season last year when I came here so it’s important for me to do the whole pre-season and be fit enough for the first game.

“It definitely affected me last year” he added. “When you are with the team for one month and when you train with them, it’s not the same as arriving and then in seven days you are playing the game. It was a difficult time for me”

Lovren is competing with Martin Skrtel and Mamadou Sakho for a place at the heart of the defence this season and says he is confident that with a good pre-season under his belt he will be able to bounce back from last season’s disappointment and prove his army of critics wrong. 

“I know when I do a good pre-season then I know I will have a good season, so I can’t wait to start..." he said, before adding with a smile "and to show everyone that they are wrong!”