Liverpool were, on Monday, been handed a major boost ahead of the 2018/19 Premier League with Croatian centre-back Dejan Lovren taking part in his first training session with the club.
Lovren starred for the Vatreni as the tiny European nation reached the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final and with Jurgen Klopp suffering a bit of a crisis at the back, his return couldn’t have come at a better time.
For Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan are both injury doubts for their season opener against West Ham United on August 12.
Which leaves Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez as the only fit senior options in central defence and now Lovren may be rushed back despite having arrived in Liverpool only on Sunday.
Here’s the video, in which he can be seen stretching:
Look who’s returned to Melwood. 😃👊
Welcome back, Lovren! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/EVQvaaCvUW
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 6, 2018
Liverpool fans are hoping fervently that their Croatian defender, who recently shaved his head, can build on his displays at the World Cup and have a strong season for the club.
Lovren’s not quite been up to scratch at despite arriving at Anfield on the back of a burgeoning reputation from Southampton for a fee of £20 million four years ago.
While van Dijk is a confirmed starter, it’s not certain who will partner the towering Dutchman in central defence.
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Klavan is too ponderous to be a serious contender while Gomez is still too raw which leaves Matip and Lovren to fight it out for one spot.
Matip’s injury issues have pushed Lovren to the front and currently, the Croatian does have an edge over the Cameroonian international.
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The Reds play Torino in their final pre-season fixture of the summer on Tuesday night but it is highly unlikely that Lovren will play as the club would want him to get up to speed with a rigorous training programme this entire week.