MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Saturday, November 21, 2015: Liverpool's Dejan Lovren after the 4-1 victory over Manchester City during the Premier League match at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

19 starts, 10 clean sheets: Dejan Lovren’s improvement under Jurgen Klopp

Dejan Lovren has emerged as one of the success stories of Jurgen Klopp‘s reign at Liverpool so far, as statistics show his improvement.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Saturday, November 21, 2015: Liverpool's Dejan Lovren after the 4-1 victory over Manchester City during the Premier League match at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Joining Liverpool in a £20 million last summer, Lovren endured a testing 2014/15 campaign that looked set to spill over into the new season, after a shaky start under Brendan Rodgers.

But following the arrival of Klopp in October, the Croatian has gone from strength to strength, establishing himself as a first-choice centre-back.

Remarkably, in 19 starts in defence since Klopp’s appointment, Lovren has helped Liverpool to 10 clean sheets.

This accounts for 66 percent of Liverpool’s clean sheets under Klopp overall, with the Reds registering 15 successful shutouts from their 0-0 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.

Lovren has done so alongside a number of centre-back partners in Mamadou Sakho (four), Kolo Toure (four), Martin Skrtel (one) and Steven Caulker (one).

As a result, the 26-year-old has been fielded both on the left- and right-hand side of Liverpool’s central pairing.

This bodes well for the defender who has won more aerial duels per 90 minutes this season (4.1) than any other Klopp’s regular options, as well as averaging more clearance (7.5) than any other player.

It is this simple, no-nonsense approach that has allowed Lovren to thrive, restoring his confidence after a troubled season in 2014/15.

That Lovren is able to do so alongside a number of partners could see him continue in a key role next season, with the left-sided Sakho and right-footed Joel Matip likely serving as regular options for Klopp.

Lovren is among a number of players to enjoy a resurgence under Klopp, including Adam Lallana and Emre Can.

Fighting back from the brink to become a key part of Liverpool’s revival in 2015/16, Lovren may well have played his way into a long-term future on Merseyside.