Football

LIVERPOOL – Croatian international Dejan Lovren is set to reclaim his place in the Liverpool starting line-up for Friday’s Premier League clash with Chelsea after being given a clean bill of health by manager Jurgen Klopp.

The 27-year-old central defender suffering a head injury in training which obliged him to miss the 4-1 trouncing of champions Leicester last Saturday.

However, while all the players involved in the game emerged unscathed Klopp said German international midfielder Emre Can would not figure on Friday as he has yet to return to training after suffering an ankle injury.

"The players involved in the last game are until now all ready again plus Dejan (Lovren)," said Klopp at Wednesday’s press conference.

"Not the others, for example Emre. Emre’s not injured anymore, that’s good, but he needs to train, that’s how it is.

"He had a difficult pre-season with coming in later than most of the other players (due to Euro 2016).

"Then he had a bit of an injury, it’s not the best moment until now. He’s still a wonderful player but we have to make him fit.

"That’s what we do with him, that’s what we do with Mama (Sakho)."

Lovren, whose poor relations with national coach Ante Cacic saw him omitted from the Euro 2016 squad, was replaced by Lucas Leiva for the Leicester game with the Brazilian gifting Jamie Vardy a goal in the first-half. AFP