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Dejan Lovren has revealed his and Joel Matip’s secret weapon in their partnership against attacking players - speaking German.

The Croatian and Cameroonian have forged an impressive pairing at the heart of Liverpool’s defence this season, albeit one that has been missing since Matip picked up at injury against West Ham at Anfield.

Ragnar Klavan has stepped in well but Jurgen Klopp will undoutedly be keen to see his first-choice partnership restored as soon as possible.

And Lovren spoke about the extra advantage their background in Germany gives them on the pitch over opponents.

Lovren spent seven years in Munich as a child after his family fled his homeland while Matip was born and brought up in Bochum.

“In situations where you need to speak quickly we will use German. I might shout to tell him that somebody is coming behind to close him down.

“It seems to work, especially when we are up for corners and I can communicate with him about where to go. If it’s in German, the opponents can’t understand what we are saying.”

Matip has been missing for the last five games and his absence did lead to a return to a shaky Lovren against Bournemouth last month but he has since established a strong partnership with Klavan.

He ended up taking the captain’s armband after the substitution of James Milner at the Stadium of Light on Monday and was perhaps Liverpool’s best player against Sunderland in the ultimately disappointing 2-2 draw.

Lovren hopes his pairing with Matip can be a regular one for the next few years.

“We’ve definitely developed a nice relationship. I’m really enjoying playing with him. He’s a cool guy, really calm and we already know each other much better and how we both like to play.

“Hopefully that will continue for a couple of years,” he told Liverpool’s official matchday programme, This is Anfield.”

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Lovren also revealed how his second sporting love is tennis - but how a strict pre-season regime prevented him tackling Wimbledon’s strawberries and cream.

“My grandad always said ‘You are an athlete that is suited to tennis’. It’s my second hobby now. I love it. When I have time off during the summer I play it and really enjoy it.

“I went to the Wimbledon final during the summer when Andy Murray won the title.

“It was a great experience, something very different to football as people are dressed in suits and very quiet.

“No I didn’t have strawberries and cream - it was the start of pre-season as I was watching what I ate!”

The 27-year-old may also surprise Liverpool fans with his favourite defender in England- one John Terry.

“I played as a defender a s a kid. But it was more Italian players, or guys in the Italian league, who caught my eye.

“I admired guys like Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta and Javier Zanetti. In England it was always John Terry. He was about 25 or 26 and really at the top of his game”.