Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Dejan Lovren has a more serious muscle injury than before, adding that he cannot put a time frame on the center-back’s absence and recovery.
Lovren was subbed off after 53 minutes of the 2-0 Champions League win away to Salzburg on Tuesday, having managed only 40 minutes of the 3-0 Premier League victory over Bournemouth last weekend at the Vitality Stadium before heading down the tunnel.
The defender is set to miss Saturday’s game against Watford at Anfield and Klopp admits he is unsure when the 30-year-old will be able to return to footballing action.
While speaking to reporters on Friday the 52-year-old explained that the muscle injury is a bit more serious than the last time Lovren faced the issue and the club does not have a time frame on the extent of the injury, “He is out, muscle this time – more serious than last time, We don’t have a time frame.”
With Cameroonian center-back Joel Matip also sidelined with a knee problem, Klopp has only Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez as his senior center-back options amid a grueling run of fixtures in the festive period.
Following the Watford game, a team largely comprising of youth and fringe players will face Aston Villa in the League Cup on Tuesday, with the rest of the squad in action in a Club World Cup semi-final 24 hours later in Qatar.
With league games against second-place Leicester City and Wolves to come before the turn of the year thick and fast, Klopp accepts his lack of defenders is a worry for the busy schedule.
Klopp further explained that Fabinho did play as a center back last season but even the Brazilian is out injured at the moment, “It’s a concern, It’s not the first time we are in a situation like this: last year, one game Fabinho played at center-half. Unfortunately, he is out as well. It’s not too cool.”
