FLYING...

Lovren insists rampant Reds have the form and mental strength to sustain title bid

game by game and we will see where we finish.” Liverpool, infamously, slipped up in the title race in 2013-14 – the season before Lovren arrived – when Steven Gerrard’s stumble gave the trophy away, even as they had one hand clasped around it.

Before that, the Reds also led at the midway point in 2008-09 – when they lost only twice all season, but were overpowered by Manchester United – and in 1996-97.

But Lovren says the current team has slowly learnt neither to look back nor forward, at history or what they hope to achieve. Instead, the calm around the training ground allows them to concentrate fully on the task in hand.

“We don’t look at who is behind us or in front of us. It’s more only about us and that’s how we should do it always,” he said.

“We learned from those previous seasons. When you look at the Newcastle game, it was quite a tough first half, there were chances, but we couldn’t find the right spot to score.

“Luckily enough, I scored, but again we had a winning mentality to keep us going, and the second half we played like a new game.”

It helps, of course, when you have a record-breaking defence.

Seven goals conceded at the halfway point of the season is the best at that stage in the history of the English top flight, equalling Chelsea’s record.

It is almost impossible to fathom from a team, which their own manager admitted, was too prone to conceding goals under pressure.

Virgil van Dijk’s arrival has helped, but Lovren believes it is a mentality that runs through the entire team.

“The foundation isn’t about five players behind. It’s about Mo, Bobby, Sadio, Shaq, everyone up front, they are the first defenders,” he explained.

“We know, when we don’t concede a goal, we score. That’s the key for us and we need to stay hungry. When we lose the ball, get it back quickly.

“It was tough against Newcastle, as you also have good opponents.

“Next game Arsenal, then Man City – but we know how to control these games.”