Phil Babb has praised Liverpool’s central defensive partnership of Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip as the ex-Reds centre-back believes the duo provide the perfect combination of a warrior and a ball-player.
Lovren, who joined Liverpool from Southampton in 2014, is beginning to make his mark at Anfield under manager Jurgen Klopp after enduring a difficult start to his career on Merseyside.
The Croatia international is a no-nonsense defender and is known for his combative style of play.
On the other hand, Matip, who was snapped up by Liverpool on a free transfer from Schalke in the summer, is a more composed figure at the back, renowned for his abilities on the ball.
The pair have thus far played six games in all competitions for the Reds, helping the club to keep two clean sheets, with Babb explaining that the two defenders’ contrasting styles of play are making the defence solid.
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The 45-year-old, who insisted that Klopp now trusts the partnership of Lovren and Matip, went on to add that he feels Liverpool will be able to keep more clean sheets if the centre-backs improve their defending from set-piece situations.
“The main thing is there is no chopping and changing. He [Klopp] trusts the pair of them now”, Babb explained on LFC TV, following the win over West Brom.
“Lovren you could argue is the warrior. And then you've got the ball-player, almost like that [Daniel] Agger and [Martin] Skrtel partnership.
“I think they are solid enough.
“Neither of them are going to get troubled in the air in normal play, it's just their awareness and commitment to attack the ball at set pieces.
“If we focus on that, get that sorted out, give our 'keepers more confidence to come out and really dominate at set pieces, we're certainly going to keep more clean sheets.”
Liverpool, who have been vulnerable from set-pieces this season, conceded a goal from a corner during their 2-1 win over West Brom on Saturday.
