NEIN NEIN NEIN
DEJAN LOVREN has lost his battle to be fit for Liverpool’s Champions League showdown with Bayern Munich tomorrow.
The centre-half has not trained with his Reds teammates since returning from a trip to his native Croatia, where he worked with a strength and conditioning coach to address a nagging hamstring problem.
Lovren’s injury has improved but not enough to convince Kop boss Jurgen Klopp to select him to face the Germans at Anfield, even though central-defensive partner Virgil van Dijk is suspended and Joe Gomez still sidelined with injury.
It is understood Klopp has ruled Lovren out of starting but there is a slight chance he could make the bench given the manager’s selection problems. Brazil star Fabinho will replace Van Dijk alongside Joel Matip, but Klopp could consider selecting a youngster for the bench if Lovren is not up to that.
Under-23 centre-back Nat Phillips is still undergoing rehab for an ankle injury and, while he has returned to training, he is not fit enough to be named in the squad to tackle Bayern.
That means hugely promising 17-year-old Ki- Jana Hoever, who played against Wolves in the FA Cup defeat in January, will probably get the nod as a sub.
Bayern Munich are not the force they were and trail Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, but former Dortmund boss Klopp recognises the size of the task his team face.
“They have quality in all departments and we have to admit that because it’s a fact,” said Klopp. Bookies can’t split the two sides, making the Reds and Bayern 5-6 jointfavourites to qualify for the quarter-finals, and that’s a view Klopp endorses.
“We are a good side, we know that, but we don’t go into the game as favourites,” he said.
“They had a little dip in the league but they still have to play Dortmund in Munich and so becoming champions seven times in a row is still possible for them. We will play them with all we have on Tuesday. I’m really looking forward to it. It will be a fantastic atmosphere.”
Liverpool’s most recent meeting with Bayern was in the European Super
Cup way back in August 2001, the Mersey men winning 3-2.
They last met in the European Cup in the semi-finals in 1980-81, Liverpool winning on away goals before beating Real Madrid in the final.
Bayern have played three times at Anfield and never scored a goal, drawing 0-0 twice and losing 3-0.
His headache in central defence apart, manager Klopp has a clean bill of health and almost a full squad to choose from, with midfielder Gini Wijnaldum cleared to play despite a slight knee problem.