Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that defender Dejan Lovren suffered a thigh injury at Anfield ahead of the weekend match. (The Sport Review)
The Reds ran out 3-0 winners over Huddersfield Town but the Croatian international suffered a thigh injury during the warm-up on Saturday. This is the latest low in the season for Lovren, who has had a poor start to the 2017-18 Premier League season.
Having already conceded 15 goals in 5 matches away from home this term, the entire Reds’ defence was questioned for its effectiveness. Lovren was not spared either as critics saw his performances to be as poor as others, if not worse.
The lowest point for Lovren came in the game against Tottenham at Wembley where the defender was substituted in the 32nd minute. That was after Tottenham raced to a 2-0 lead, with Harry Kane feasting on two Lovren mistakes to give Spurs a platform for an easy 4-1 victory.
Even Klopp couldn’t hide his disappointment at the performance. Ahead of the match against Huddersfield, there was some debate if Lovren would be included in the side.
However, Klopp put all those doubts to rest by naming the former Southampton defender in the starting line-up. But, a thigh injury forced the manager to turn to Estonian international Ragnar Klavan to replace the Croatian defender.
The German tactician confirmed Lovren’s fitness setback:
“It was the last pass. Maybe you saw it. Joel and Dejan were exchanging passes and then in the last one, he felt something in the muscle,” Klopp said, as quoted by the Sport Review.
“I don’t know exactly, we had no time – the only question I asked in the treatment room was, ‘Yes or no?’ and I got a no and then we changed. It is his thigh.”
Liverpool finished fourth last season to secure a return to the Champions League. It was expected that Klopp would mount a title charge this season. But, the failure of the club to sign a defender has come back to haunt us as we have started the season on a sticky note.
After 10 games, Liverpool are placed 6th, with 16 points, and we have already conceded 16 goals – the highest among the top six. Hopefully, the defence can now find its feet back to cut down the errors.
