A knee injury will prevent Dejan Lovren from playing for Liverpool again in 2015, but he should be good to go shortly after the new year begins.
Scans on Lovren’s injured right knee revealed no structural or ligament damage, The Liverpool Echo’s James Pearce and The Guardian’s Andy Hunter reported Tuesday. Lovren is expected to miss three to four weeks as he heals from swelling, bruising and a deep cut. The Croatian center back almost certainly will miss Liverpool’s next six games.
Lovren’s injury looked worse
Lovren, 26, suffered the injury Sunday in Liverpool’s 2-2 Premier League draw with West Brom. Craig Gardner’s heavy challenge on Lovren in the second half left Liverpool stopper with a gash on his knee and serious pain inside the joint. Medical staff stretchered Lovren off the field, and he left Anfield on crutches.
Lovren had been enjoying a lengthy run of games, having appeared in Liverpool’s last 11 games (nine starts).
He previously missed six games over one month earlier this season due to a ligament strain he suffered against Carlisle United on Sept. 23.
Mamadou Sakho back
Many feared Lovren would miss a period of months, but the scans allayed those concerns.
Lovren’s injury coincides with Sakho’s return from a knee injury, which has sidelined him since Nov. 8. Sakho has participated in full practice sessions this week and is in contention to start Sunday’s Premier League game against Watford.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will have just three first-team center backs — Martin Skrtel, Sakho and Kolo Toure — at his disposal during Lovren’s absence.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@SkyFootball
