Jurgen Klopp has described Dejan Lovren‘s injury in the opening stages of Liverpool’s 2-1 loss to Wolves in the FA Cup third round as “the wrong moment.”
The manager made nine changes to his side for the trip to Molineux, but was forced to make another after just six minutes as Lovren pulled up.
On went Ki-Jana Hoever for a dream debut at just 16, but as Lovren left the field it looked as if Klopp shared some choice words with his backroom staff, with the youngster left to partner Fabinho.
With both Joe Gomez and Joel Matip already ruled out, it was likely a mix of frustration and concern for the German, ahead of a return to Premier League action at Brighton on Saturday.
Fabinho produced a reasonable display in an unnatural role in the West Midlands, and it could be that he now partners Virgil van Dijk against the Seagulls, as Klopp provided an update on Lovren’s fitness after the defeat.
“I don’t know exactly what Dejan has,” he told beIN SPORTS, later explaining that it was a hamstring problem.
“It was the muscle, obviously, out of the blue. I asked around—I was not in the best mood in the moment—there was absolutely no sign for it, only that he had a lot of games.
“That’s why we were careful with the situation, we cannot use him and him and him.
“Dejan was on the edge. Hendo was in the team yesterday and then [a minor injury] happened for Hendo, and in the game it happened for Dej.
“Just the wrong moment, but we will see how it is.”
Klopp was asked whether Lovren’s injury—which could leave Van Dijk as the only fit centre-back—may prompt him into business in the January transfer window.
But the manager was quick to dismiss this suggestion, with Matip and Gomez both expected to return in the coming weeks.
“Of course we are short, but can you use the transfer market to make a solution for two weeks? It’s pretty difficult,” he explained.
He later added: “I don’t see a solution for two weeks. Unless the rules could be completely changed and we can bring one in for two weeks then we ‘think new’.”
This would indicate that Klopp would prefer to “get creative” with his defensive options again for the upcoming fixtures, as he told reporters before the trip to Molineux.
Liverpool are likely to give further insight into Lovren’s injury on Tuesday.
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