Dejan Lovren has defended himself following his debut campaign with Liverpool.

The 26-year-old centre-back was criticised by many after his first season at Anfield, following his £20million move from Southampton last summer, left a lot to be desired.

Lovren was not alone, however, as the Reds crashed from runners-up in 2013/14 to sixth place last term and he believes he was not the only player who should be attracting negative attention.

"It has been tough," Lovren told the Liverpool Echo.

"I think it was a tough year for everyone at the club and the fans.

"I wasn't quiet last season, I just wanted to concentrate on myself. I knew what was happening with how I was playing was not right and I didn't want to speak about it.

"At Southampton it was different. There was a good atmosphere and I was happy. If I am not playing well, I cannot be happy. I didn't pretend.

"But it is not Dejan Lovren-Liverpool, you know? I cannot defend all alone. It is 11 players. When we are good, everyone is good.

"When we are bad, everyone is bad, not just me. I think we need to look like this, not just put the pressure on me or point the finger. I don't agree with this.

"I know what the papers were writing about me. I don't want to have to listen to this again. We want to move on as a team. When we are better, it is because we will be doing all together good."