Monday 23 February 2015 13:02, UK
Dejan Lovren feels the abundance of young talent at Liverpool means there is no limit to what the club can achieve.
The Reds have compiled a 10-game unbeaten run since December and moved to within two points of the Premier League top four with their 2-0 win at Southampton on Sunday.
It is a return to form for a club who challenged for the title last season but who struggled in the first half of the current campaign to adjust to life after Luis Suarez, who was sold to Barcelona in the summer.
Their goalscorers at the weekend were 22-year-old Phillippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling, who is already an England international at the age of 20, while teenager Jordon Ibe has recently established himself in the Reds’ first team.
Martin Skrtel was the only player in Liverpool’s starting XI at Southampton in his 30s as they fielded a line-up with an average age of 23.4 years.
"We have massive, massive talent and we can just go higher and higher because everyone is so young," said former Southampton defender Lovren.
"With the talent and young (players), I think we can achieve whatever we want, whatever we imagine.
With the talent and young (players), I think we can achieve whatever we want, whatever we imagine.
"We just need to work hard and give our best on the pitch."
Lovren, like Adam Lallana, also had to handle the attention of the St Mary's crowd, who let them know in no uncertain terms their dissatisfaction at their summer exits.
"It was an amazing win," Lovren said. "It was a tough game for us and we knew when we arrived here that it would be difficult for us.
"It's a massive three points for us, now we're a step closer to the top so we need to continue like this. I think we did a great job.
"Of course, it was a special moment to play against my ex-team – especially after the win, I'm more happy."
The victory was not without controversy, though, as referee Kevin Friend made a string of controversial calls, with Filip Djuricic twice taken down in the box before Lovren handled late in the first half.
"I am not sure for all three (penalty claims)," Lovren said.
"I know for mine when I touched the ball with the hand, I know it was too close. It was a deflection so I couldn't react and I don't think it was a penalty.
"For the first two, I am not sure - I didn't see. I was a little bit far away. I think at the end I think the referee was doing a great job."
That is not something Southampton midfielder Djuricic agreed with after being taken down by Emre Can and then Joe Allen in the opening minutes.
"I think the second one was a clear penalty," he said. "The first one, okay, I fell down because I felt the contact.
"The referee in that case could or could not whistle, but the second one I think was a clear one and it could decide the game on a different way, but we could also play a little bit better in the offensive line, and be more direct."
