Klopp admits Liverpool’s defensive concerns ahead of league opener

LIVERPOOL face potential defensive problems ahead of Sunday’s Premier League opener against West Ham United, with Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez their only senior centre backs fit and available, manager Juergen Klopp said.

Joel Matip ( hip) and Ragnar Klavan ( hamstring) both missed Saturday’s 5- 0 thrashing of Italian side Napoli due to injuries and are doubtful for Liverpool’s final preseason match against Torino on Tuesday. “Joel, we’ll have to see. Klavan, shouldn’t be too serious, but if Tuesday is too early I don’t know yet,” Klopp told the Liverpool Echo.

“Maybe we will do some magic things with the formation on Tuesday. I don’t know how we will do it.” Dejan Lovren will rejoin the squad on Monday after an extended break following the World Cup but is a doubt for the next two games.