Dejan Lovren, one of the best defenders in the world (hey, don't look at us) has reportedly earned a rebuke from Liverpool over his failure to properly report a stomach injury through which he played through at the World Cup.
Speaking to Croatian outlet Sportske Novosti, Lovren confirmed that he faces an injury layoff at Liverpool as a result of a stomach muscle injury he sustained during the World Cup. Lovren said that the pain has got worse since the competition ended and is now going to see a specialist in Holland over the injury.
I cannot train at all because of stomach muscle issues. 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.
Lovren oddly chose not to tell Liverpool about the issue, instead playing through pain and then jetting off on holidays. He then returned to pre-season training at Melwood last week to tell his employers that he couldn't train, such was the pain. The centre-back confirmed that Liverpool are unhappy.
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 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.
Liverpool start the season very short at centre-back: Joel Matip is injured again, a is Ragnar Klavan. Jurgen Klopp hopes to pair Virgil Van Dijk with Joe Gomez against West Ham tomorrow afternoon, but Gomez himself is carrying a knock. Should he not make it, Klopp will have to turn to novice Nat Phillips.
