Lovren in race to return

FITNESS RACE: Lovren DEJAN LOVREN has travelled to Croatia in a desperate bid to be fit to face Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

The Anfield defender has seen his country’s strength and conditioning specialist as he struggles to shake off a hamstring injury in time for the first leg of the last16 tie at Anfield on Tuesday.

Liverpool are already without Virgil van Dijk through suspension, while Joe Gomez is still recovering from a broken leg.

That leaves Joel Matip as the only fit senior centreback for the visit of the German giants, with Fabinho expected to move into the backline again if Lovren fails to make it.

Lovren, 29, is desperately trying to overcome the hamstring strain he picked up during Liverpool’s FA Cup third-round defeat by Wolves on January 7.

He did not travel with the rest of the squad to Marbella for a warm-weather training break this week.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said: “I don’t want to rule it out but I cannot really plan with it.

“He is not here for good reasons, because he cannot be part of training.

“Then from Saturday on, Dejan is back at Melwood and we will see.

“But, of course, we have to prepare it differently.

“If Dejan gives a sign on Monday – ‘I feel brilliant’ – then we would have to think anew.”