{"id":546765,"date":"2020-03-23T08:14:59","date_gmt":"2020-03-23T12:14:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=546765"},"modified":"2020-03-23T08:14:59","modified_gmt":"2020-03-23T12:14:59","slug":"report-liverpool-preparing-three-man-shortlist-to-replace-defensive-liability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2020\/03\/23\/report-liverpool-preparing-three-man-shortlist-to-replace-defensive-liability\/","title":{"rendered":"REPORT: Liverpool Preparing Three-Man Shortlist to Replace Defensive Liability"},"content":{"rendered":"

Liverpool<\/a> are preparing a three-man shortlist to replace their defensive liability Dejan Lovren<\/a>, according to Patricia Caz\u00f3n of Spanish publication AS<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Liverpool Preparing Three-Man Shortlist to Replace Defensive Liability<\/h2>\n

Lovren\u2019s Struggles<\/h3>\n

Dejan Lovren has struggled recently, having become extremely liable to mistakes at the back. The Croatian has not had much game time in recent seasons, with just nine league appearances in 2019\/20 as a result of his many mistakes. A recent example of a defensive blunder of his came earlier this calendar year.<\/p>\n

The Reds were 2-1 up in their FA Cup tie against Shrewsbury Town<\/a> and seeing the game out with a weakened team due to fixture congestion. Shrewsbury\u2019s keeper drop-kicked the ball up the pitch and having bounced around, it reached Lovren, with the task of sweeping it away from danger. The defender, however, completely missed the ball, allowing Jason Cummings<\/a> through on goal to put it in the back of Liverpool\u2019s net and force a replay.<\/p>\n

Other mishaps have come in games, such as their first defeat in 44 league matches which came against Watford.<\/a>\u00a0His overall poor performance alongside arguably the best defender<\/a> in the world Virgil van Dijk<\/a> was one of the reasons Liverpool missed out on a potentially invincible season, another disaster at the back. Many fans are now calling for his sale, and it may come soon according to the report.<\/p>\n

The Three-Man Shortlist<\/h3>\n

First on Liverpool\u2019s wishlist is Jos\u00e9 Mar\u00eda Gim\u00e9nez<\/a>. Although he is quite injury prone, the Uruguayan could prove a great partner for van Dijk. Atletico Madrid\u2019s 25-year-old centre-back is very good at aerial duels and interceptions, and while passing is not his strongest asset, van Dijk can make up for that.<\/p>\n

RB Leipzig\u2019s Dayot Upamecano<\/a> is the second name to feature. The Frenchman has made a name for himself playing in the Bundesliga<\/a>, being RB Leipzig\u2019s first choice centre-back since the end of the 2016\/17 season, when he was just 18 years old. He is great at tackling and with passing another of his strong points, he and Liverpool\u2019s Dutch first-choice could develop a great partnership<\/p>\n

Finally, there is\u00a0Alessandro Bastoni<\/a>. The 20-year-old is the youngest on Jurgen Klopp\u2019s list, but is currently ploughing his trade for Inter Milan\u2019s first team on a regular basis. The Italian has gone out on two loan spells in the past two seasons, however the Serie A giants deemed him ready this campaign. Liverpool may be eyeing up a move for him, however, looking for someone to replace Lovren.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a>