Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp paid tribute to Dejan Lovren after the defender completed a £10.9million move to Zenit St Petersburg.
The Croatia international has ended a six-year spell at Anfield after making just 15 appearances this season, falling to fourth-choice centre-back in the pecking order behind Virgil Van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.
“Another Liverpool legend who leaves the club, because he was absolutely a very, very important part of this team from the first day since I was in,” Manager Jurgen Klopp told liverpoolfc.com.
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“When he was fit, he was very, very, very often in the team. A great player and a great person.
“Really good, in the air a machine, and I really liked working together with him.
“It will be interesting to follow Zenit St. Petersburg now. I wish him the best of luck.”
Arguably Lovren’s greatest moment in a Liverpool shirt came when he scored a stoppage-time header to beat Borussia Dortmund 4-3 at Anfield in a Europa League quarter-final second leg tie which paved the way for them to reach the final in 2016.
His lowest point was being hauled off after just 31 minutes of the 4-1 defeat against Tottenham in October 2017.
“He played super games and scored one of the most important goals of our history in the 4-3 against Borussia Dortmund; a really wonderful moment to share,” added Klopp.
“He had so many good games. Yes, I think he will not like the Tottenham game when I took him off in the first half, but it is part of football and part of development – and he always came back.”
