LOVREN LASHES OUT OVER LUKAKU CLASH
DEJAN LOVREN has accused Romelu Lukaku of deliberately trying to injure him and claims the Manchester United striker’s actions prove he was in the wrong. The Liverpool defender was left writhing around and clutching his face, seemingly in agony, after a coming together with Lukaku towards the end of the first half of Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Anfield. Referee Martin Atkinson chose not to take any action against Lukaku and that course of action was followed by the FA yesterday, as they decided the Belgium international did not have a case to answer after studying video evidence. Lovren, however, was clearly disappointed they had come to that conclusion. The Croatia international, gearing up for Liverpool’s Champions League clash against Maribor this evening, was of the opinion Lukaku kicked his face deliberately and felt the way he behaved subsequently backed up his point. ‘I made a tackle there,’ said Lovren after he arrived in Slovenia. ‘I just felt he was over me and he could move away, but, to be honest, my point of view is that he did it on purpose. Even if he did it, normally he would apologise after that. ‘But I saw he was nervous during the game, so maybe that was also the reason. That happened on the pitch and it is over. I cannot say I am not disappointed, but it is what it is. We need to move on. That is football, part of the game.’ Lovren was able to see out the full game against United and he was one of Liverpool’s stand-out performers along with substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has started only once since his £35million move from Arsenal. Oxlade-Chamberlain, however, is expected to start tonight.