Rio Ferdinand reacts to Dejan Lovren’s error in Liverpool win

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Rio Ferdinand has suggested during BT Sport’s post-match coverage of Liverpool’s win over Genk (broadcast on 23/10; 22:15) that Dejan Lovren is the one Reds player who will be disappointed after the emphatic win.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have moved into a strong position in their Champions League group. A brace from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, as well as goals from Sadio Mane and Mo Salah helped the Premier League leaders take a 4-0 lead in Belgium.

However, Genk would strike late on. Stephen Odey was there to score after the home side had dispossessed Lovren. The Croatian had been attempting to see the ball off for a throw-in, but it was stolen and led to the game’s final goal.

And after the game, Ferdinand insisted that Lovren will be extremely disappointed to have made the error that would have taken some of the shine off the win.

“That just ruins your day,” he told BT Sport. “You’re 4-0 up and you make a mistake like that. As a centre-half, you’re the only one on the flight home who’ll be slumped in the chair because you’ve made a mistake. You want a clean sheet.”

It will be particularly difficult for Lovren to take as the game was a real chance for the centre-back. The 30-year-old has not played much this term. So with Joel Matip injured, he had an opportunity to impress.

He actually did little wrong during the game. But that may perhaps make the late error more difficult to stomach.

Lovren is not the liability that he had been at times during his first couple of years at Anfield. Nevertheless, it was a mistake that he could hardly afford to make.