Liverpool’s Klopp Clears Up Speculation Around Lovren’s Fitness

It’s looking like Liverpool are going to be waiting on Van Dijk’s default dance partner for a little longer. Liverpool defender and Virgil van Dijk’s default central defensive partner Dejan Lovren recently raised some eyebrows when he gave an interview in which he complained of a stomach muscle issue that had apparently been aggravated by his exertions during Croatia’s World Cup run. It was a surprise to many supporters that Lovren was even ailing, so his remarks sparked speculation about when the injury occurred, what the defender told his club about it, and the extent to which Liverpool had been caught unawares.

Manager Jürgen Klopp resolved part of the mystery following the Reds’ 4-0 victory over West Ham United. Speaking to the press, Klopp gave the impression that Lovren’s condi...