Defender Dejan Lovren has insisted to the Liverpool ECHO that he shouldn't be made a scapegoat for Liverpool's poor season last year, but has also admitted he must improve after a dreadful first 12 months on Merseyside.
The Croatian moved to Liverpool last season from Southampton in a £20 million move, which made him the club's most expensive ever defender.
Understandably, there was a lot of hope when Lovren signed, with fans believing he would solve the defensive issues the club had following a successful spell with the Saints.
However, Lovren suffered a nightmare debut season, which included poor decision making and numerous defensive mistakes - as he struggled to live with his price tag.
Despite this, Lovren feels that most of the criticism was unjust and he is looking to silence those who have doubted him in the upcoming season.
Lovren admits first year at Anfield was difficult
Lovren said it was a "tough year" not just for him, but for the club's supporters as well - as the Reds missed out on the top-four and fell in the final four of both domestic cup competitions.
He added: "I was not quiet last season, I just wanted to concentrate on myself. I knew what was happening. How I was playing wasn't right, but I did not want to speak about it."
Lovren's poor season included missing the decisive penalty in a shoot-out away at Besiktas in Liverpool's Europa League exit in February.
But the centre-back believes he is not the only one who should come in for criticism.
"It's not all about me"
Lovren continued: "It is not Dejan Lovren-Liverpool, you know? I cannot defend alone.
"It's 11 players in a team. When we are good, everyone is good. When we are bad, everyone is bad. Not just me.
Lovren ended last season on the bench and will have to try and force his way back into the team, ahead of Martin Skrtel and Mamadou Sakho - who are believed to be the favourites for the centre-back slots against Stoke City next month, with Brendan Rodgers keen on returning to a flat back-four.
Lovren hoping to turn things around
Despite a poor first season, Lovren is looking forward to the new season and believes it will be a much better season for the fans and the players.
"We knew [at the end of last season] that we should have done better. But we need to forget it and look forward. We cannot look back.
"I know this season will definitely be better. Hopefully we'll have a better start. The signs are promising at the minute and we have made some great signings [over the summer].
He added that James Milner "has been brilliant", Divock Origi "has been amazing" and Danny Ings is "quite quick" before saying that he hopes he will improve himself.
Liverpool supporters will be hoping that Lovren can back his comments up with some good performances next season so that he can prove just why Liverpool paid so much for him a year ago.
