There weren’t many positives for Liverpool to take from Saturday night’s Champions League defeat to Real Madrid. Falling at the final hurdle was painful, particularly with the manner in which it came for the Reds, but one man enjoyed arguably his finest night in a Liverpool shirt: Dejan Lovren.

The much maligned Croatian has been slammed from pillar to post throughout his Anfield career with every transfer window seeing fresh calls for him to be replaced. Yet Jurgen Klopp has kept the faith with him, making him his first choice to partner Virgil Van Dijk in central defence, and in Kiev he repaid that faith.

Right from the off, Lovren had work to do as he covered for Trent Alexander-Arnold as he burst forward, with Lovren looking like a world-beater as he marshaled Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, keeping their impact to the bare minimum.

(Photo by Paul Ellis/Getty Images)

In the second half, he made a crucial contribution as it was his header from James Milner’s corner which teed up Sadio Mane to poke in from a few yards out and equalise, giving the travelling Kop hope of a comeback.

Another was almost equally as important as he produced arguably the best challenge of the match, diving in to nip the ball off of Gareth Bale’s toes as he looked to secure a hat-trick in the closing stages.

Winning all of his aerial challenges and all of his tackles, the signs of nerves and calamity that he has previously displayed on big occasions were long gone. Lovren looked composed, strong and focused just when his team needed him most.

Few will argue that Jurgen Klopp does not need to move to make defensive signings this summer, given that even with Joel Matip returning, there are effectively only three centre-backs at the club, but Lovren’s display in Kiev showed that whoever joins won’t be a first-team regular.

Adding depth is key to the Reds’ business plans this summer, in all departments, and if Liverpool can add a growing talent at a cheaper price rather than breaking the bank for a first team regular, it could be a major boost.

Saturday night was one for Liverpool to forget as they crashed out of the Champions League with a 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid and manager Jurgen Klopp was in no mood to hide his emotions after the final whistle.

“I’m not fine, I’m the opposite of fine, but I try to be professional. I said it a few times, I’m turning 51 next month or so, I lost games in my life before, I won games in my life before – I know how to deal with that. What you cannot avoid is the feeling you have the night after the game,” he explained to the club’s website.

“We all feel really, really bad, and the way home will not be the best trip we ever had in our life but we have to accept it now. We wanted everything and got nothing, or minus something with the injury of Mo.

“At the end, it’s a football game, we tried everything to win it, that’s why I wouldn’t change anything in my preparations. I did the best I could and it was not good enough and I have to accept that, that’s it.”

(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Klopp also gave an injury update on star man Mohamed Salah to the club’s official website, with speculation that a suspected dislocated shoulder could lead to him missing the World Cup with Egypt this summer.

It would be a devastating blow for the forward after an incredible campaign, but Klopp insisted that the club did not yet know the extent of the injury. He confirmed that Salah had gone to hospital for an X-ray.

On a more speculative note, news agency EFE, as reported by America TV, claim that the ex-Roma man has spoken to his family on Sunday to tell them that he will still be fit enough to travel to Russia.

(Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

Away from the devastation of Champions League final defeat, The Independent say that Liverpool are considering moves for Burnley‘s James Tarkowski and Newcastle’s Jamal Lascelles to strengthen their back line ahead of another assault on the Premier League next season.

There is no doubting that the Reds need to add more strength in depth over the summer, but given Dejan Lovren’s upturn in form towards the end of the campaign any player coming in will have a battle on their hands to line up alongside Virgil Van Dijk. With Joel Matip soon back from injury, it will be interesting to see just how much Liverpool would be prepared to spend.

Liverpool’s Champions League dreams were dashed in Kiev last night, as Gareth Bale put the Reds to the sword. His stunning overhead kick was however bookmarked by two awful mistakes by Liverpool keeper Loris Karius.

The German inexplicably threw the ball into the path of a Karim Benzema block before Gareth Bale’s hopeful shot in the 82nd minute squirmed from his grasp into the back of the net. It was a horror-show night for the stopper who had only just started to convince Liverpool fans he was up to the task of being their number one.

As much as you have to feel sorry for the ‘keeper, one thing was made evidently clear by his performance. Liverpool must buy a new goalie this summer.

(Photo credit should read MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP/Getty Images)

Plenty of names have been mentioned in the past few months. Liverpool have been linked with Jack Butland, The Sun reported a £35 million price-tag for the Stoke and England star. The same price-tag has been mooted for AC Milan stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma in The Mirror.

The other goalkeeper who has been mentioned is Alisson of Roma. Whilst the Italian side are not keen on selling the player, a price-tag of £70 million has been mentioned in the past, which would make him the world’s most expensive goalkeeper.

What is now apparent is, that whoever Liverpool decide on as the best option between the sticks, they must pay whatever necessary to bring that man in.

(Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images)

Alisson, Donnarumma, Butland? It is not important who. All three would be a huge upgrade on Karius and perhaps plug the one main weak link left in this current Liverpool side.

If it is £35 million or £70 million, the chequebook has to be made available to Jurgen Klopp to bring in the keeper Liverpool need to challenge for silverware once again next season.

As stunning as Bale’s second goal was, the fact is Liverpool might have come away with glory from Kiev if Karius was not between the sticks.

That is the sort of problem which must be solved, regardless of the cost.