Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp responds to Dejan Lovren comments with injury update

Lovren reached the final of the World Cup with Croatia, playing six out of their seven games.

But after returning this week from a post-World Cup break, Lovren was found to have suffered a stomach injury and told Croatian media that Liverpool were unhappy with him.

The defender didn’t feature for Liverpool in their 4-0 win and speaking after the match, Klopp opened up on the issue.

Klopp told reporters: ”I didn’t read his interview, I only heard about it!

“He’s obviously not fit. With the World Cup, the [injury] got worse.

“It’s serious, but not that serious. It’s not that we are afraid or whatever.”

Lovren told Croatian outlet Sportske Novosti that he had played with the injury against Liverpool’s wishes.

He said: “I cannot train at all because of stomach muscle issues.

“I am suffering a lot of pain and will see a specialist doctor in the Netherlands.

“When did I start to feel it? I felt it during the World Cup.

“I played with pain and those three games killed me. But who wouldn’t play for Croatia at such a big tournament!

“After the World Cup finished, the pain increased.

“I can’t even sit in my car without feeling it and to get out of the car hurts like hell!

“I’d always grit my teeth and play for Croatia, but now I am paying the price. But no price is too high for what we achieved in Russia.

“Of course, they [Liverpool] are not happy. I haven’t trained since I returned from holiday. I can’t.

“I’ll reassess things after seeing the doctor in Netherlands. I have to deal with that for now and believe it will be okay.

“I hoped it would pass during my holiday, but it didn’t. As I went for a swim, it hurt. I couldn’t even rest normally.”