Jamie Carragher backs Dejan Lovren to succeed at Liverpool

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has backed new signing Dejan Lovren to be a success at the club.

The Croatia international centre-back joined the Reds from Southampton last week for a reported fee of £20m.

With Liverpool having been guilty of suffering defensive frailties during the 2013-14 campaign, Carragher believes that Lovren is the type of leader that the team needs at the back.

"I saw him at Anfield when Southampton travelled there and I saw him against Manchester United as well and he was outstanding in both games," he told the club's official website.

"He looks like an organiser and he looks like a leader. You look at him and he has the potential to make a big powerful impact at the back and that's what Liverpool need.

"There are a lot of good centre-backs out there and they'll have different qualities but you don't get many of that type and that's what I saw in those games."

Liverpool return to pre-season action on Monday night when they play Manchester United in the final of the International Champions Cup in Miami.