Lovren Says Liverpool Need Perfect Champions League Start To Reach Last 16

Liverpool centre-back Dejan Lovren has urged Brendan Rodgers' side to secure six points from their first two Champions League groups games in order to progress to the last 16.

The Merseyside club host Ludogorets on Tuesday and travel to Basel on matchday two, before a double crucial header with Spanish giants Real Madrid.

"It's important to win the first game. It's easier when you start the Champions League with three points," Lovren told Liverpool's official website.

"Then we'll have the second game against Basel away, so we know what to expect, and then the beautiful games against Real Madrid at home and away. We need to try and get six points from the start."

However, Liverpool's new defensive linchpin says his teammates mustn't undervalue the Bulgarian side.

"They are a good team. We have seen some videos of them. It will be a difficult game - they have good individual players who are really quick, so we need to be ready for everything" Lovren said.

"But we are at home, we are playing at Anfield and we need to attack. If we can do this, I think we have a good chance of getting the three points."

Liverpool need a victory to move on from their disappointing Premier League defeat against Aston Villa on Saturday but Rodgers is still without the injured Daniel Sturridge.

"It [Villa] was a disappointment for everyone" Lovren said. "We didn't play well in the first half, we conceded a stupid goal from the corner and at the end it was difficult to get back into the game because they were really, really good defensively.

"In the second, we were much better. We moved the ball quicker and had chances, but in the end it was a disappointment to lose 1-0 at home. Especially after the game against Tottenham; we had a lot of confidence. We need to move on. It's Champions League time now, so we need to forget it as soon as possible."