All is not fair in Lovren war
SLAVEN BILIC believes Dejan Lovren will emerge stronger despite a ‘fan’ threatening to kill his family simply because he was not defending well.
Liverpool defender Lovren was handed his Croatia debut by Bilic in 2009.
But a nightmare couple of weeks at club level started with Lovren being replaced after half an hour against Tottenham following an error-prone display that gifted Spurs a couple of goals.
The player this week revealed a death threat had duly been made against his family on social media.
West Ham boss Bilic has condemned the vitriol coming Lovren’s way.
“That [death threat] shouldn’t be there,” he said. “Those people should be ashamed of themselves, big time.
“I’m very, very disappointed. He’s more than a centre-back. He never hides on the pitch. He’s always there. Sometimes he does make mistakes but sometimes he’s making up for somebody else’s mistakes.
“It’s not easy to play centreback at Liverpool because of the way they play. Lovren’s a really good lad, an honest lad. Never asks for any excuses.
“Sooner or later he’s going to score a goal – I hope that isn’t going to be against us. But Lovren is very strong in his head.”
Lovren also has the support of Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who has urged his players to ignore social media taunts because his view is the only one that matters.
Liverpool have rallied around the Croatian defender and the club’s fans responded by voting him as their player of the month for September.
And Klopp emphasised that his squad should only be interested in his thoughts on them.
“No other opinion is important,” he said. “That does not mean I’m always 100 per cent right but it’s the only important one. Yes, we do make mistakes.
“Dejan made a mistake or two in a game but that’s not a problem, we still can show our togetherness. That’s how it is. “I have no problem with information on social media, I have no problem with little things, exchanging, whatever, that’s not a problem.
“But we all have to learn to judge it right. That’s why I said it’s a fantastic sign that our fans show that, no, that’s not the truth.”
Liverpool have been boosted by the return of winger Sadio Mane for their tea-time clash with the Hammers.
The 25-year-old resumed training on Thursday following a hamstring injury sustained while he was away with Senegal during the last international break.
Mane is unlikely to start but is set to be named among Liverpool’s substitutes.
“Sadio trained the first time with the team and looked really, really good,” said Klopp. “It looked like he was ready for 20-25 minutes but we have to wait to see how his body reacts to the session. Obviously he has not lost his ability and skills during the injury break, so that is good.” Mane’s attacking presence will be a boost for Klopp given that his Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho will miss out again with an abductor problem. Klopp also revealed there is still no timescale on when Nathaniel Clyne will be available after the defender incurred another blow in his rehabilitation. The England right-back has not featured at all this season because of an ongoing back problem. “You cannot rush it. He was in a good way, running and with intensity, stuff like this. But the muscle showed a little reaction,” added Klopp. “It was not an injury and usually with a healthy and fit player you wouldn’t even think about it. “But in his case because it was a little sign of the back, we took him out and it’s a few steps back again.”