Lov not even Razor-sharp

DEJAN LOVREN’S greatest achievement is that he’s beginning to make Neil Ruddock look like a model of concentration and application.

So basic, so glaring and so regular are cock-ups by Lovren (above, left) in a Liverpool shirt, he makes ‘Razor’, the overweight, often-bevvied, on-field japester look an example of good decision-making.

Wembley on Sunday was the low point of a bar placed lower than a limbo dancer’s jacksie, but he was far from alone. As Philippe Coutinho pointed out after the debacle saw the 15th away goal conceded in five games, the blame goes wider than Liverpool’s defence.

He’s right. Take, for example, the man who committed the first defensive howler of the season on the opening day at Watford, when he switched-off at a corner to gift them the lead – Emre Can (above, right).

Against Spurs, he was lazy in thought and movement, delivered half-hearted shots from distance, had a consistently poor first touch, which led to needless fouls in dangerous situations and lacked spacial and tactical awareness at set-pieces.

This is the same player who has his heart set on walking into Juventus’s highly-disciplined side next season. Good luck with that.

Jurgen Klopp has much work to do on the defensive side of his team to stand any chance of trophies.

A good start would be leaving out those who don’t look able to defend, either due to a lack of ability or a mind that seems to be elsewhere.