Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel has hailed the improvements that his teammate Dejan Lovren has made over recent weeks.

Following his summer move from Southampton, 25-year-old Lovren struggled for consistent form, which resulted in him being dropped for a spell by manager Brendan Rodgers.

However, having recently regained his place in the starting lineup, Skrtel has been impressed with what he has seen from his fellow defender.

"I was glad for him because he's a nice guy. I talk to him a lot, he's my neighbour and I'm glad he's getting to the form that he was in at Southampton," he told the club's official website.

"It's not easy to come to a club like Liverpool, because it's a big club and expectations are very high. It's not easy to come in and perform well from the first day until the last.

"In football and life you have bad days and better days - that's normal. I believe Dejan will perform well. He is showing his quality every day in training and also in the games he has played. I just hope he will carry on this way until the end of the season."

Lovren has made 26 appearances for the Reds in all competitions this season.