Paul Gorst – 6
Largely a peripheral figure in his sixth year as Liverpool centre-back.
Helped keep the dangerous Jamie Vardy quiet in a 2-1 win over Leicester in October and played his part in the huge win over Manchester City.
Briefly threatened a renaissance of sorts across November and December, starting six in a row before getting injured in Salzburg.
Hasn’t really been able to get back into the side following that injury in Austria and his only two starts since have been the draw at Shrewsbury in the FA Cup and the only Premier League defeat so far at Watford.
He was abject at Watford along with everyone else and Joe Gomez is very much in possession of the shirt alongside Virgil van Dijk at the heart of Liverpool’s defence now. The sun may be beginning to set on his Anfield career.
Joe Rimmer – 5
Dejan Lovren has endured another Dejan Lovren season at Liverpool.
The Croatian has played his part for the Reds and will fully deserve the Premier League title winner’s medal that will surely hang around his neck at some point in the near future.
But ask Liverpool fans what they remember about his 19/20 campaign and many will give you the same one word answer.
“Watford”.
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Lovren wasn’t the sole person to blame for Liverpool’s single defeat of the league season, but mud sticks and he’ll no doubt carry the can.
Added to which, Liverpool have kept just two clean sheets in the 10 games Lovren has played.
But then again, the Croat was part of the side that beat Spurs and Man City as well as the one that eased past Everton in the Merseyside derby.
Lovren isn’t quite as bad as some might believe, nor is he good enough to be a contender for a place in Liverpool’s back four any longer.
But he’ll deserve his medal as much as anyone.
Theo Squires – 4
There were question marks over Dejan Lovren’s Liverpool future last summer following interest from Italy.
In the space of a year, he’d gone from Virgil van Dijk’s first-choice defensive partner after man-of-the-match showings in the Champions League and World Cup finals to Jurgen Klopp’s fourth choice centre-back.
The Reds boss ultimately decided against selling the Croatian but faces a similar dilemma again this year. Was he really worth keeping hold of?
Granted he’s had his moments after injury to Joel Matip and Fabinho and Joe Gomez’s loss of form granted him a brief return to Klopp’s starting XI before Christmas.
He impressed in the 3-1 victory over Manchester City and scored an important European goal against Napoli for example, but his body let him down when his side needed him most with the Croatian’s injury curse striking once again.
And then there was the trademark Lovren horror show coming at Watford away.
For whatever reason, he’s no longer a player Liverpool can rely on and if not for injuries elsewhere, they wouldn’t have had to.
Limited to just nine Premier League appearances, it will be no surprise if the 30-year-old seeks pastures new this summer in search of first team football.
Klopp would be happy to keep him as a squad option for the final year of his contract, but that’s all he can be at Anfield these days – a squad option. He can’t contribute enough to be anything more.
The German faces another dilemma regarding the defender should he ask to leave, but this year it’s not so tough.
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He’s be a good servant for the club and more than deserves a Premier League winner’s medal.
But with his impact minimal barring the odd game, his Anfield career is nearing a natural finish.
Dejan Lovren patience running out as Liverpool frustration prompts Jurgen Klopp dilemma - Liverpool Echo
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