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Dejan Lovren expects to sign a new long-term contract with Liverpool before the end of the season.

The Croatian centre-back, whose current deal runs until the summer of 2019, has confirmed that talks are underway over an extension.

Lovren has firmly established himself under Jurgen Klopp after a tough start to his Reds career following a £20million move from Southampton in 2014.

Now he's looking to the future with relish after enjoying a triumphant return to action in Saturday's 3-1 derby victory over Everton.

“Progress (on the contract) is going on and I'd say that hopefully everything will be clear in the next month,” Lovren said.

“Like I've said many times about my future, I'm really happy here. I'm settled after everything that happened in the beginning.

“I just want to improve every day here, show my quality and give my best for the club.”

Lovren hadn't played since late January due to a troublesome knee injury.

But he's now fully fit and he produced an impressive performance against the Blues after being picked ahead of Ragnar Klavan to line up alongside Joel Matip.

“I've been working hard, it's been quite tough for me to come back,” Lovren added.

“For a month I didn't even train and then when I was back with the team it wasn't so easy.

“But we defended really well together against Everton and I'm happy about that.”