Lovren KO from World Cup injury

LIVERPOOL defender Dejan Lovren is facing a spell on the sidelines after returning from the World Cup with a stomach injury.

The centre-half admitted the Reds are not happy with the situation after he revealed that he played through the pain barrier to help Croatia get to the World Cup Final.

It leaves Jurgen Klopp with a selection headache, with Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan (below) having their own injury struggles during pre-season.

Lovren only returned to Melwood last Monday and he was not in contention to face West Ham today.

He will now visit a specialist in Holland to assess the injury.

“I cannot train at all because of stomach muscle issues,” said Lovren. “I am suffering a lot of pain and will see a specialist doctor in the Netherlands.

“When did I start to feel it? I felt it during the World Cup. I played with pain and those three games killed me. But who wouldn’t play for Croatia at such a big tournament!

“After the World Cup finished, the pain increased. I can’t even sit in my car without feeling it and to get out of the car hurts like hell!

“I’d always grit my teeth and play for Croatia, but now I am paying the price. But no price is too high for what we achieved in Russia.”

Asked about Liverpool’s reaction to the injury, Lovren said: “Of course, they are not happy.

“I haven’t trained since I returned from holiday. I can’t.

“I’ll reassess things after seeing the doctor in the Netherlands. I have to deal with that for now and believe it will be OK.

“I hoped it would pass during my holiday, but it didn’t. As I went for a swim, it hurt. I couldn’t even rest normally.”