Liverpool FC defender Dejan Lovren: Don't make me scapegoat for last season

Dejan Lovrenadmits he needs to improve this season – but insists he shouldn’t be made a scapegoat for Liverpool’s woes last term. The Croatia international endured a torrid first year at Anfield following his £20million move from Southampton. The most expensive centre-back in the club’s history came in for plenty of flak after producing a succession of error-strewn performances as the Reds trailed home sixth in the Premier League. However, Lovren believes some of the criticism was unfair and he’s determined to win over the doubters this season. “It has been tough,” Lovren said. “I think it was a tough year for everyone at the club and the fans. “I wasn’t quiet last season, I just wanted to concentrate on myself. I knew what was happening with how I was playing was not right and I didn’t want to speak about it. “At Southampton it was different. There was a good atmosphere and I was happy. If I am not playing well, I cannot be happy. I didn’t pretend. “But it is not Dejan Lovren-Liverpool, you know? I cannot defend all alone. It is 11 players. When we are good, everyone is good. “When we are bad, everyone is bad, not just me. I think we need to look like this, not just put the pressure on me or point the finger. I don’t agree with this. “I know what the papers were writing about me. I don’t want to have to listen to this again. We want to move on as a team. When we are better, it is because we will be doing all together good.”