Injury Concerns Ground Dejan Lovren in Liverpool

Joël Matip has gotten over his latest knock and made the trip to Spain, but first choice defensive partner Dejan Lovren wasn’t so lucky and has been left behind in Liverpool to continue his rehab on a knee injury that has kept him out of the last two matches.

The club had hoped he would be fit to travel to Spain with the rest of the first team and some key youngsters, but in the end Associated Press have reported that he wasn’t ready. There are still hopes, though, that he will be able to face Leicester City in two weeks.

Lovren was the only key first team player who didn’t travel to La Manga, and he will spend time at Melwood with Danny Ings, Marko Grujic, Ovie Ejaria, and Adam Bogdan—Liverpool’s quartet of long-term injuries and players not expected to play again this season.

Despite picking up a knock in the second half against Tottenham on Saturday, Lucas Leiva was able to join Matip and the rest of the first team squad travelling today. In total, 25 players travelled, including a handful of the club’s more promising youngsters.

Despite flying to the Spanish coast, it won’t be rest and relaxation on offer for those players, though. Jürgen Klopp gave the team three days off following the victory over Spurs, and now the plan is for three-a-day sessions in La Manga.