An assessment of who would be best to partner Liverpool’s new signing.
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With Liverpool today confirming the £20m signing of Croatian centre-back Dejan Lovren from Southampton, CaughtOffside looks at the five main contenders to partner him at the back for Brendan Rodgers’ side this season.
Defence was a problem position for the Reds last season, with the club’s poor defensive record ultimately looking like what cost them in the Premier League title race, with their superb record upfront certainly not a problem as they fired in an incredible 101 goals in 38 league games.
Lovren’s arrival should help the team look more solid at the back, but Rodgers still has some thinking to do about who should partner the 25-year-old in that position, with as many as five players possibly in contention for just one place in the side.
5) Tiago Ilori
Still only a youngster, Tiago Ilori may find himself in contention for a first-team place this season after spending last term out on loan with Spanish side Granada. The Portuguese Under-21 international is a highly regarded prospect after being brought to Anfield from Sporting Lisbon last summer, and with some of the club’s other defenders failing to convince for the Reds last season, maybe Ilori will be a surprise contender to become more of a regular for the club this season.
4) Kolo Toure
After an up-and-down first season with Liverpool, Kolo Toure will be hoping to do better this time around as he faces plenty of competition for a place in the Reds’ back four. Once regarded as one of the best defenders in the Premier League during his days with Arsenal, it is fair to say that the Ivory Coast international is probably well past his peak now, but he remains an experienced and committed individual who may still have plenty to offer the club in the upcoming season. His chances of becoming first choice look admittedly slim, but Toure will be hoping to prove some doubters wrong in 2013/14.
3) Daniel Agger
Recently linked with a move to Barcelona, it may be that Liverpool will decide to cash in on the Danish international, who was not quite at his best for much of last season. The 29-year-old has been a terrific servant to the club since joining all the way back in 2006, but there is no guarantee of him being first choice in defence now. It remains to be seen if Lovren has in fact been signed to replace Agger, or to play alongside him, but it leaves Brendan Rodgers with some thinking to do as the new season approaches.
2) Martin Skrtel
A solid player and a reliable source of goals last season, Martin Skrtel looks a good bet to be first choice or thereabouts for Liverpool to play alongside the club’s new £20m purchase. The Slovakian international will always give 110% to the Reds’ cause, despite recently being targeted by Serie A side Napoli.
1) Mamadou Sakho
After an injury-hit first season, Mamadou Sakho may now be ready to show his full potential in a Liverpool shirt and work his way into the starting lineup at Anfield. The rock-solid French international was a top performer at his previous club Paris Saint-Germain, prompting the Reds to fork out big money for him last summer. Although he has not found his best form in English football yet, he should be ready to go after a year to settle in at the club. At his best, Sakho would surely be the first choice to partner Lovren, in what would be a superb-looking and well-balanced central defensive partnership.