Carra: Lovren is a leader
Jamie Carragher believes his old central defensive spot is in good hands at Anfield following the capture of Dejan Lovren.
Liverpool added the powerful Croatian centre-back to their defensive ranks in late July having made a favourable impression during his first Premier League season with Southampton - not least when keeping a clean-sheet and scoring a Saints winner at Anfield.
His performance that day - and subsequently, others - did not go unnoticed by the former Reds defensive stalwart, who believes his old club have signed a defender with great leadership qualities.
"I saw him at Anfield when Southampton travelled there and I saw him against Manchester United as well and he was outstanding in both games," said Carragher.
"He got the winner at Anfield - I remember that well.
"He looks like an organiser and he looks like a leader. You look at him and he has the potential to make a big powerful impact at the back and that's what Liverpool need.
"There are a lot of good centre-backs out there and they'll have different qualities but you don't get many of that type and that's what I saw in those games."
The retired Carragher, who now works as an analyst for Sky Sports after making 737 appearances for the Reds, confessed to being suitably impressed by the way Liverpool's new No.6 handled himself during a particular visit to Old Trafford last season.
He added: "The game we highlighted on Monday Night Football was at Old Trafford and he was coming up against Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie, two world class strikers and he more than held his own - in fact he came out on top.
"He was aggressive and he was organising and that's exactly what you want in a centre-back.
"I think it's a part of his game though so hopefully he can bring that to Anfield and that's what Liverpool need which is to be a touch tighter because going forward is what nearly won us the league.
"It's a bigger stage and there will be bigger players around him so maybe he will find it a little tougher to organise those around him but that's what it will be about. In that position he was as good as anyone in the first-half of the season.
"He did suffer with a few injury problems in the second-half of the campaign and that coincided with Southampton tailing off a touch but definitely in the first-half he was playing as well as anybody in his position."
Carragher also believes that Lovren comes to Liverpool at the perfect age for a centre-back, and is a signing not only for the present, but one for the future.
He said: "Without a doubt Lovren is a great age for a centre-back.
"You don't really want a centre-back to be much younger than 24 really because they can go onto have a much longer career than players in different positions.
"Mid 20s, you're looking at getting a good seven or eight years out him if he can be a success for Liverpool and that would be great service for the club if he could do that."