Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes that the £20m fee that the Merseyside giants paid for Dejan Lovren has hindered his performances this season.

Lovren impressed for Southampton last year, but since his switch to Anfield, the Croatian centre-back has struggled for form, while he was dropped from the side to accommodate a new formation before Christmas.

However, Carragher, who made 737 appearances for Liverpool, has insisted that the 25-year-old will benefit from the experience ahead of his second year with the club.

The 37-year-old told Sky Sports News: "Lovren has not set the world alight. He came in for a big fee, and he has not quite done yet what he was brought to the club to do. Lovren was good last season and he is not a bad player, he has just had a difficult time at Liverpool since he joined the club.

"There have been a lot of eyes on him, which brings its own pressure, as does the price tag, and hopefully we will see the best of him between now and the end of the season.

"Going into next season, like we have seen with his defensive partner Mamadou Sakho, we should start seeing the best of him."

Lovren has made 19 starts and six substitute appearances in all competitions during the current campaign.