In normal circumstances, Jurgen Klopp would not be expected to select any of the players he inherited upon arriving at Liverpool when Tottenham visit Anfield on Sunday.

Spurs were the opposition for the German’s first game as a Premier League manager just over four years ago, and the sides’ differing approach to squad turnover since is often cited as the reason for their diverging fortunes.

That contrast will no doubt be evident in Mauricio Pochettino’s line-up this weekend, the Argentine having nine of the players involved in that 2015 fixture available to him.

But there is likely to be at least one throwback in Klopp’s team: Dejan Lovren.

Having seemingly been relegated to fourth-choice in his position at Anfield, the Croatian attracted firm interest from both AC Milan and AS Roma over the summer.

Talks with the latter ultimately collapsed over Liverpool’s £15m valuation, leaving Lovren seemingly sidelined until January - or so it seemed, anyway.

Since then, the 30-year-old has leapfrogged Joe Gomez in the centre-back pecking order to earn starts in Joel Matip’s absence, a role he will likely reprise when Tottenham visit Merseyside on Sunday.

Consequently, he has no regrets that a move away did not materialise and, when reflecting over that period of uncertainty, says: “The transfer window time is now over.

“I will always be here if I am needed. I am giving more than 100 per cent for this club from day one.

“There are good days and bad days but six years is quite a long time. Everything, at the moment, is fine.

Liverpool squad 2019-20 | Injuries, contracts and squad numbers 25 show all Liverpool squad 2019-20 | Injuries, contracts and squad numbers 1/25 We run you through Liverpool's squad for the 2019-20 season... EPA 2/25 Alisson Becker Squad Number: 1



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Contract expires: 30/06/2020 Action images via Reuters 18/25 Xherdan Shaqiri Squad Number: 23



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 Liverpool FC via Getty Images 1/25 We run you through Liverpool's squad for the 2019-20 season... EPA 2/25 Alisson Becker Squad Number: 1



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Contract expires: 30/06/2021 Liverpool FC via Getty Images 7/25 James Milner Squad Number: 7



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Contract expires: 30/06/2022 AFP/Getty Images 8/25 Naby Keita Squad Number: 8



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West Ham United FC via Getty Ima 14/25 Jordan Henderson Squad Number: 14



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Contract expires: 30/06/2020 Action images via Reuters 18/25 Xherdan Shaqiri Squad Number: 23



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Contract expires: 30/06/2023 Liverpool FC via Getty Images 19/25 Rhian Brewster Squad Number: 24



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Contract expires: 30/06/2023 Liverpool FC via Getty Images 20/25 Andrew Robertson Squad Number: 26



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 Getty Images 21/25 Divock Origi Squad Number: 27



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Contract expires: New long-term deal signed on 10/07/2019 Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images 22/25 Joel Matip Squad Number: 32



Condition: Ankle injury (Ruled out)



Contract expires: 30/06/2024 David Blunsden/Action Plus 23/25 Trent Alexander-Arnold Squad Number: 66



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 REUTERS 24/25 Kamil Grabara Squad Number: 73



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Contract expires: 30/06/2022 Liverpool FC via Getty Images 25/25 Sepp van den Berg Squad Number: 72



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 Liverpool FC via Getty Images

“Let's see what will happen. It was a challenge for me this summer to stay here but I gave everything in pre-season and I fought. There are always some new challenges, maybe, in front of you.

“It depends whether you accept them or not but it also depends on whether you are needed in the team or not. In the end I stayed and I am quite happy.”

Lovren’s promotion has come about as a result of a commitment to giving everything at Melwood, even when his chances of breaking into the starting XI looked slim.

But the Croatia international admits it has been difficult to suppress his natural impatience while waiting for an opportunity to come around.

He added: “That is part of the job, to work hard behind the scenes even if you don't get a chance. I always believed in myself and giving 100 per cent on the training ground.

“The boss sees it and in the end it is his decision who plays or not. I am a fighter.

In Pictures | Man Utd vs Liverpool | 20/10/2019 30 show all In Pictures | Man Utd vs Liverpool | 20/10/2019 1/30 Getty Images 2/30 Manchester United via Getty Imag 3/30 REUTERS 4/30 Liverpool FC via Getty Images 5/30 Getty Images 6/30 Getty Images 7/30 PA 8/30 Getty Images 9/30 Manchester United via Getty Imag 10/30 Alex Livesey/Getty Images 11/30 PA 12/30 REUTERS 13/30 REUTERS 14/30 Manchester United via Getty Images 15/30 REUTERS 16/30 Manchester United via Getty Imag 17/30 AP 18/30 REUTERS 19/30 PA 20/30 PA 21/30 REUTERS 22/30 REUTERS 23/30 Getty Images 24/30 Manchester United via Getty Imag 25/30 AFP via Getty Images 26/30 REUTERS 27/30 Getty Images 28/30 Manchester United via Getty Imag 29/30 Manchester United via Getty Imag 30/30 Getty Images 1/30 Getty Images 2/30 Manchester United via Getty Imag 3/30 REUTERS 4/30 Liverpool FC via Getty Images 5/30 Getty Images 6/30 Getty Images 7/30 PA 8/30 Getty Images 9/30 Manchester United via Getty Imag 10/30 Alex Livesey/Getty Images 11/30 PA 12/30 REUTERS 13/30 REUTERS 14/30 Manchester United via Getty Images 15/30 REUTERS 16/30 Manchester United via Getty Imag 17/30 AP 18/30 REUTERS 19/30 PA 20/30 PA 21/30 REUTERS 22/30 REUTERS 23/30 Getty Images 24/30 Manchester United via Getty Imag 25/30 AFP via Getty Images 26/30 REUTERS 27/30 Getty Images 28/30 Manchester United via Getty Imag 29/30 Manchester United via Getty Imag 30/30 Getty Images

“That's the key point, to be patient. There are players who are patient and there are players who are not patient...I am struggling (laughing). It is part of the game and you need to accept it.

"You are fighting with yourself and your character and it is good to have sometimes this part of the game where you think 'OK, I am easy inside'. It doesn't work like that. It is always about fighting and the fighting spirit.”

Of course, Lovren is not the only Liverpool player to have recently taken his chance after a long wait for playing time.

From Adam Lallana’s equaliser at Old Trafford to Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s impressive performances at Genk, the Reds’ strength in depth has been fully showcased in recent weeks.

Of those contributions, Lovren said: “This is a big improvement from ourselves. When you look back two or three years when some changes came in the game you didn't see the [effect] of the changes.

“Now when a couple of players coming in, especially the United game when three players came on, the tempo of the game changed quickly.

“I am pleased for Adam [Lallana] and it says a lot about us, it is not easy when you don't play for 10 games and then you just come in and everyone expects you should play as if you have played for three months.