Liverpool injury update: Klopp confirms major injury concern ahead of Munich game

Liverpool are facing a problem at centre-back ahead of their Champions League clash with Bayern Munich as Dejan Lovren has emerged as a major doubt for the game.

Lovren hasn’t featured for Liverpool since suffering a hamstring injury during the early stages of their FA Cup third round defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers on January 7th.

While the majority of the Liverpool squad flew out to Marbella for a warm-weather training camp this week, Klopp has confirmed that Lovren has remained behind to continue his rehabilitation at Melwood.

The Reds boss has also suggested that the 29-year-old is now facing a race against time to be available for selection against Bayern Munich for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash on February 19th.

Joe Gomez is also still back on Merseyside continuing his rehab after being forced to undergo another operation on his fractured leg that’s kept him on the sidelines since early December.

Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com:

“Dejan is not here and Joe [Gomez] is not here. That’s never a good sign, I would say, but we will try everything to make Dejan available for Munich. It will be a tight race.

“For him, it makes sense in the moment to be in another place to do what he has to do. It wouldn’t have helped if he was here, so we will try everything – that’s clear.”

With Virgil van Dijk suspended, it means Joel Matip would be the only recognised centre-back available to Klopp against Bayern next week if Lovren is ruled out of the game.

Fabinho is the man most likely to come in alongside Matip with the Brazilian international expected to recover from a minor muscle complaint which has kept him out of training today.

James Milner and Georginio Wijnaldum were also absent from training in Spain today as they’re still feeling the effects of their recent illnesses so the midfield duo did some work in the hotel gym.

Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com:

“It’s how it is after games, you have a couple of problems.

“Millie and Gini still struggle with their illnesses, so they did a bit of work in the hotel. Fabinho felt [something] a little bit; it will not be a problem, but there was no reason for him to be out today.

“Hopefully he can train tomorrow and if not then the day after that. None of them are serious, all will be fine.”

Liverpool will be praying they don’t suffer any more injury concerns ahead of the visit of Bayern to Anfield next week as they look to secure a first leg victory on home soil before the return trip to Germany next month.