Lovren to shrug off thugs and threats

Bosses’ support after horror week

JURGEN KLOPP and Slaven Bilic have come out in support of Dejan Lovren at the end of the most turbulent week in the Liverpool defender’s career.

Lovren revealed on Tuesday that he had received a death threat against his family on social media.

Three thugs then smashed a patio door at Lovren’s home on Wednesday while he was at Anfield for the Champions League game against Maribor — the same night his team- mate Sadio Mane’s house nearby was targeted by burglars. Merseyside Police are investigating both incidents.

Liverpool manager Klopp has urged his squad not to pay too much attention to messages they receive on social media and hopes the 28-year-old appreciates how highly he is regarded.

Supporters have responded by voting Lovren Liverpool’s player of the month and Klopp believes that is more indicative of what the majority of people think about the Croatia international.

‘It only shows how fans are different from people who are very loud on social media,’ said Klopp, who hopes Mane will be fit enough to play ‘20 or 25 minutes’ at West Ham today after recovering from a hamstring tear.

Hammers boss Bilic, who was in charge of Croatia when Lovren made his international debut, was incensed when he heard about the death threat.

‘ Those people should be ashamed of themselves,’ said Bilic. ‘ Maybe I’m wrong but I think those people who did it didn’t mean it seriously.

‘They were not joking, but it’s a bad, bad way of expressing they’re not happy with the way he played.

‘Sooner or later he’s going to score a goal like the one he scored against Borussia Dortmund (in the Europa League in April 2016) and he will be a hero again. Lovren is very strong.’

Bilic has accused his players of naivety after West Ham gave away a two-goal lead to draw at Crystal Palace last Saturday.

Michail Antonio took the flak for crossing instead of keeping the ball in the corner before Wilfried Zaha levelled for Palace in the 97th minute and Bilic revealed that the Hammers wide man was distraught and apologised to his team-mates afterwards.

‘We were naive at the moment, not just him, but the team,’ said Bilic. ‘ He said sorry for that moment of madness.’