Liverpool have been given a major defensive boost ahead of Monday's clash with Manchester United after centre-back Dejan Lovren and right-back Nathaniel Clyne returned to training.
Jacob Murtagh in the Mirror reported the defensive duo's potential return to action, with both having missed out on representing their countries during the recent international break.
Croatia international Lovren, 27, picked up a knock in Liverpool's last outing against Swansea City, while Clyne missed out on facing Malta and Slovenia with England.
Given that Liverpool's back line remains the weak link in their side, manager Jurgen Klopp will be desperate for Lovren and Clyne both to be available for the United clash at Anfield as the Reds go for a fifth Premier League win on the bounce.
Clyne is Liverpool's undisputed starting right-back, and there is little genuine cover for him in the position.
Meanwhile, despite Klopp adding Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan to his centre-back options in the summer, Lovren remains a key part of the defence and has started five of the Reds' seven Premier League matches in 2016-17, perWhoScored.
Lovren has had his critics since joining Liverpool from Southampton in 2014, but he has played a key role under Klopp.
The Croatia international is an increasingly reliable presence at the back, and given Liverpool's overall weaknesses in defence, he is something of a stalwart in the defensive line.
There is cover available for him, with Matip, Klavan, Mamadou Sakho and even Lucas Leiva able to drop into the middle of defence.
But Klopp will be delighted to see Lovren return to fitness as Liverpool look to continue their excellent start to the new campaign.
Linking up with Jurgen Klopp and his new Liverpool team-mates on Saturday, centre-back Joel Matip is hoping to add goals not just stop them.
The Cameroon international joins the Reds on a free transfer, after 16 years with Bundesliga outfit Schalke, and took part in the first training sessions of pre-season this weekend.
Though still only 24, Matip has seven seasons of top-flight experience, and Liverpool supporters will relish his strong defensive presence at the back.
“I’m a defender, in the air and on the ground, and I’m always looking to play in front,” he told LFCTV on his arrival, “and I’m always good for a few goals.”
Matip will join Dejan Lovren, Mamadou Sakho and Joe Gomez as Klopp’s centre-back options for 2016/17, but unlike his new team-mates his ability to find the back of the net is particularly useful.
During his time with Schalke, Matip scored 23 goals in 258 appearances, including a header against Bayern Munich on his debut for the club in 2011.
In his final season with the club in 2015/16, he scored four goals, more than Sakho and Lovren combined (three), and one fewer than the Premier League’s top-scoring centre-back, Scott Dann.
His best goal tally for a single campaign came in 2011/12, when he netted five times in 47 appearances.
Only two centre-backs have scored more than 23 goals in Premier League history, in John Terry (40) and William Gallas (25), while Sami Hyypia remains the Reds’ highest-scoring centre-back in the English top flight, with 22.
Matip’s goalscoring prowess is largely indebted to his aerial ability, with the versatile talent’s 6’5″ frame allowing him to dominate in both penalty areas.
Though Lovren and Sakho both scored crucial headers for the Reds in 2015/16, most notably the former’s winning strike against Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League quarter-finals, Matip’s presence is much-needed.
The dust is starting to settle. The rain, so relentless that night in Basel, has finally ceased. After a long puff of the cheeks, it is now time for assessment.
Jurgen Klopp’s first seven months in charge at Liverpool sped by. Full throttle, he called it, at his unveiling in October. How right he was. Thirty nine players, 52 games, 104 press conferences, two finals.
One big assessment needed.
Football is desperate for snap decisions; hot takes, as the kids call them. Little is left to breathe any more, with a huge rush to pass judgement.
So it has proven. The German has been with the club less than a year, but statements are already being made – the vast majority of them in favour, in truth.
Rightly so. The improvement at Anfield since his arrival is evident. The Reds needed a change after Brendan Rodgers lost both the fans’ belief and his own; Klopp was a blockbuster acquisition, a no-brainer of an appointment to excite, unite, and begin what FSG hopes is the club’s ascension back to the top.
It hasn’t been easy, and it never will be. A few bumps on the way, and a few still ahead. There has been plenty to appreciate, but a fair bit to criticise, too.
Some are reticent to throw criticism towards Klopp, choosing to lay most of the blame at the boots of the players he sends out on to the field.
The Liverpool boss wouldn’t entertain that. Speaking after the Europa League final defeat, he left no illusion where blame laid. “My situation as manager of the team is that all I have to do is self-criticise, nothing else,” he said. “It is all about us, all about me. It is my job to help the players to react in different situations better. I can improve a lot.”
A noble thought, but unwarranted, too. What happened in Switzerland, and during other low points in the season, deserved a fairer attribution of blame. Klopp could have done a few things better and he didn’t get everything right – but neither did his players.
If only others followed his example. Any criticism of Klopp is usually deflected on to the players; rarely is it attributed to the man in the dugout. The German himself would not want that and perhaps that character – his loyalty, humility and honesty – absolves him of such scrutiny.
There are caveats and mitigating circumstances, of course. Any critique is followed by a huge but; Klopp has had just seven months in charge, with a squad he did not choose, with an unprecedented injury crisis and hectic fixture list.
Still, 2015-16 brought both good and bad. Klopp did things well, and others not so well.
Klopp and Mignolet
What Klopp did well
Unity and identity on the pitch: Klopp arrived at a club whose direction was unclear. On the field, there was no defined style of play; a collective of individuals, rather than a team. Off the field, it was just as unclear. Roberto Firmino and Christian Benteke arrived in the same summer, with no real indication of whether short-term or long-term mattered more.
Enter the German. He came with a reputation of playing a certain style of football, and a clear identity off the field, too. Liverpool would now be a club that looks to nurture top talent with a high-intensity, complex pressing game.
While Rodgers had lost the crowd by the end of his tenure, Klopp had found them. While Rodgers had lost sight of what he wanted to do at Anfield, Klopp came with a clear vision. In less than a season, the implementation of that has begun. There is no question how the Reds, and Klopp, plan to achieve success – it is now about whether they can carry it out.
Instilling a never-say-die attitude: The comeback against Borussia Dortmund was incredible. “If you read it in a book you think [it is] nice but it is really rare,” said Klopp after the 4-3 win.
But in truth, it was only following a script Klopp had started to write on Merseyside. The Reds had come from behind to beat Chelsea, Norwich and Crystal Palace, as well as saving points against West Brom and Arsenal. It was the thrilling 5-4 win at Carrow Road in January that truly set the standard, a manic end which included two goals in stoppage time. Liverpool, so often accused of lacking character, have developed a real drive to turn things around.
Klopp and players salute the Kop
Implemented signs of pressing style: Gegenpressing was the buzz word around Anfield. Articles – tens, hundreds, thousands – contained the word in an attempt to explain and examine Klopp’s preferred style of football at Borussia Dortmund.
There have been signs of that working at Liverpool. Some of the pressing has been electric, with the likes of Firmino, Adam Lallana, Emre Can, James Milner and Divock Origi demonstrating how effective it can be if utilised correctly. Klopp’s side now runs harder, and smarter, than it did do previously.
Given the obstacles Klopp has faced this season in terms of training time, it is impressive how some have embraced his hard-running, intense style. No wonder there is optimism surrounding next season, with more time at Melwood a given after failure to qualify for Europe.
Brought the best out of high-profile players: Towards the end of Rodgers’ time at the club, some of the so-called big names were not performing to expected levels, while others were simply not performing. As such, the transfer windows of both 2014 and 2015 were being regarded as unmitigated failures, the club’s recruitment policy coming under scrutiny.
Klopp, however, has managed to get a tune out of a group of players he didn’t sign. Can now has a defined role and position, and looks much better for it; so, too, the barnstorming Origi. Firmino, after finding adaptation to English football hard, ended the season in double figures; Lallana and Dejan Lovren, bought from Southampton, have started to repay some of the £45m spent on them with much better showings.
Add that to how some of the Academy stars have progressed – Sheyi Ojo and Brad Smith two that spring to mind – and Klopp’s arrival has raised the level of performance substantially.
Reconnected the disconnected: Klopp spoke with sadness in November after his first league defeat as Liverpool boss. The 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace was a kick to the sternum for him, mainly because of how the home crowd reaction. “I felt pretty alone at this moment,” he said afterwards, reflecting on how fans departed Anfield after Palace’s second on 82 minutes.
A month later, he and the players raised their arms in front of the Kop. He was mocked for such a celebratory gesture after the 2-2 draw with West Brom, but the symbolism was clear – supporters had stayed until the end to cheer, and were rewarded with Origi’s late equaliser.
It is still not a perfect relationship, but a fire has been reignited within the crowd, lit by the excellent Europa League run. The atmospheres against Manchester United, Dortmund and Villarreal were to savour.
It might not quite be Westfalenstadion yet, and the relationship is still in the rebuilding stage, but Klopp has helped mend the bond between fans and players.
Jurgen Klopp, manager of Liverpool shows his dejection at the final whistle v Sevilla
What Klopp did not do well
Holding on to a lead: As good as Liverpool were at fighting back from behind, they also tossed away plenty of points from winning positions. Sunderland (albeit Klopp was in hospital recovering from appendicitis), Southampton and Newcastle saw the Reds relinquish two-goal leads. If they would have held on to them in all three games, they would have finished fourth and qualified for the Champions League.
The character of the side – lauded when they manage to come back from behind – has been criticised, but there is also a sense Klopp must look at halting negative momentum sooner. Granted, he does not have a squad he built, but there have been opportunities to bring an extra body on in midfield, or even a different sort of striker, to gain more control over a game.
Defending as a team: When the pressing and counter-pressing works, it is a daunting prospect for the opposition. When it doesn’t, however, the door is open to take advantage.
By Klopp’s own admission, such a complex pressing system needs full concentration from every player on the pitch. Everybody needs to play their part. At times this season, gaps have opened up, and Liverpool have been far too susceptible on the counter attack.
There have been individual errors – Simon Mignolet the main culprit, with six in the Premier League – but it is a collective effort, too.
It would be lazy to suggest Klopp could be troubled if his tactics are ‘found out’ – a manager of his quality is always adapting, always innovating – but there are times when Liverpool’s counter-press is less effective. What happens when, for example, the opposition allow the Reds to have 70% of the ball? It is something Klopp will be pondering this summer.
Bring tangible league improvement: There are the caveats. There are the mitigating circumstances. Yet, the reality cannot be shirked: Liverpool ended the season in eighth place, with two unsuccessful cup finals to boot.
Of course, Liverpool’s league form was impacted by their run to the Europa League final. It is doubtful results such as Newcastle (2-2), Swansea (1-3) or West Brom (1-1) would have occurred if the Reds were not prioritising European glory.
That still does not account for other limp performances, particularly Newcastle (0-2), Watford (0-3) and West Ham (0-2). The end result, ultimately, is that Klopp’s points-per-game ratio of 1.6 is only 0.1 better off than Rodgers.
That means nothing alone, and seasons should not be judged on such arbitrary measures. But ultimately, Liverpool ended in their joint-lowest position since they were promoted back to the top-flight in 1963. In fact, it was only the fourth time in that 53-year period the Reds finished eighth.
A trophy was so agonisingly close, and would have brought Champions League football as well. As it is, Klopp begins his first full season looking to improve massively on this season’s final showing.
Set pieces: Liverpool’s defence has been a curious beast this season. Lovren has been transformed into a good option at the back, while Mamadou Sakho – before his UEFA suspension – was becoming a real hero of the Kop. In some games, they, along with their team-mates, have looked solid and dependable. In others, not so much.
Yet one issue continues to rear its head for Klopp – set-pieces. Time after time, the Reds find themselves in difficult situations due to their inability to deal with balls into the box. After the 5-4 win at Norwich, he said: “Of course we know about this problem, I’m sorry to say it’s not a problem we can ignore.”
It hasn’t really improved, though. It isn’t much better at the other end, either, scoring just six from set-piece situations. The biggest demonstration, perhaps, of how Klopp needs a proper pre-season and time on the training pitch with his side.
Klopp and his squad at Melwood
Sevilla: The Europa League final cannot be ignored as a whole. Indeed, it was a collective show of what hasn’t worked this season. The relinquishing of a lead, the defensive lapses, the inability to grasp any semblance of control in the football game.
Part of it was the players. Moreno had a half to forget, but he was not alone as the Reds toiled against the Spanish side. But Klopp also did little to arrest the slump, waiting too long to make a substitution and leaving Joe Allen, Lucas Leiva and Jordan Henderson on the bench as Sevilla went 3-1 ahead. One of those midfielders could have, potentially, halted the Sevilla momentum.
Instead, everything remained the same and Unai Emery’s men scored three in 25 minutes, wrestling the trophy from Liverpool’s grasp.
Klopp was keen to accept responsibility after the game; too much of it, undoubtedly. He will be even keener to put that right next season.
Coke of Sevilla and Alberto Moreno of Liverpool compete for the ball.
London: It was perhaps inevitable that Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool would produce their most Borussia Dortmund-like performance at the home of his former club.
In last week's Europa League quarter-final first leg at the Westfalenstadion, Klopp watched his Liverpool players press and harry like the Dortmund team he steered to the highest echelon of the European game.
If historical precedents are to be believed, the 1-1 final score gives Liverpool a 74 percent chance of progressing, and the nature of their display revealed the extent to which Klopp's methods have taken hold.
"I'm pretty sure a lot of people thought we would lose 2-0, 3-0 or 4-0," said Klopp, whose side tackle Dortmund at Anfield in Thursday's return leg.
"But at some moments we had Dortmund, and around our goal we were brilliant."
The sight of Klopp on the touchline -- squawking at his players, pumping his fist in celebration of Divock Origi's first-half goal -- will have been immediately familiar to Dortmund's fans, who granted him a touching send-off at the final whistle.
So too the tactics employed by his team, whose aggressive, front-foot approach prevented the home side from settling into any kind of rhythm and whose counter-attacks kept the Dortmund rearguard on constant alert.
While Dortmund have become more of a possession-based team under Klopp's successor, Thomas Tuchel -- the legacy of the new status his seven-year tenure left them with -- Liverpool are exhibiting the same underdog mentality upon which he built his success in the Ruhr valley.
Speaking earlier this season, former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson said the team's best performances were "reminiscent of Borussia Dortmund at their best under Jurgen Klopp".
Klopp readily bestowed trust upon the players he inherited at Dortmund, with seven of the 18 players he called up for his first game, a 3-2 win at Bayer Leverkusen in August 2008, featuring in the squad that faced Bayern Munich in the Champions League final five years later.
- 'High-intensity games' -
He seems similarly determined to extract every ounce of quality from the Liverpool players at his disposal.
The occasionally maligned centre-back pairing of Mamadou Sakho and Dejan Lovren performed with sturdy resolve in the first leg, while Origi is flourishing after a difficult start to his time at the club.
"He always believed in me and he believes in the group also," said the 20-year-old Belgian striker, who followed up his goal at Dortmund with a brace in Sunday's 4-1 defeat of Stoke City.
"The fact that I'm on the pitch gives me confidence and I just try to play my game and enjoy it."
Hard-working players like Adam Lallana, Emre Can and James Milner have also earned Klopp's trust and are striving to show that they can become to him what hardy perennials like Mats Hummels, Marcel Schmelzer and Jakub Blaszczykowski were at Dortmund.
Milner, captain in the absence of the injured Jordan Henderson, is relishing the challenge of playing teams like Dortmund and Tottenham Hotspur, held 1-1 at Anfield recently, who play with a similar high-tempo approach.
"It's nice to keep getting the games," Milner said of Liverpool's busy schedule. "They have been high-intensity games as well -- Dortmund and Spurs play at a high tempo.
"That's good for us as it keeps us at that intensity we want to play at. We know if we play at that intensity, that's when we have our best matches."
If Dortmund are to prove themselves worthy favourites for the trophy, Tuchel must find a way to withstand the red tide when the teams resume hostilities on Thursday.
Dortmund's supporters will know exactly what is coming their way.
THE SUN: Rio Ferdinand has urged Louis van Gaal to ditch his rigid regime.
The former Manchester United defender reckons Van Gaal's methods are preventing his side from turning on the style.
DAILY MAIL: Jurgen Klopp had a touchline bust-up with Tony Pulis as Liverpool rescued a late point against West Brom.
The Reds boss was furious following Craig Gardner's heavy challenge on Dejan Lovren.
DAILY STAR: Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini insists the Premier League title takes priority over the Champions League.
DAILY EXPRESS: Ayoze Perez lifted Newcastle out of the Premier League relegation zone with a late winner at Tottenham.
Eric Dier headed Spurs ahead but Aleksandar Mitrovic levelled after the break before Perez struck.
DAILY MIRROR: Jaap Stam has told Fulham he wants to take over at Craven Cottage.
The ex-Holland international has just completed his UEFA licence and fancies being the Championship side's head coach.
THE SUN: The Premier League needs more British bosses, according to Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.
He said: "In this moment the number of foreign coaches in the Premier League, even in the Championship, is too big compared with the number of English or British managers."
DAILY MIRROR: Aaron Ramsey ran the show as Arsenal moved to the top of the table.
Ramsey added the Gunners' second against Aston Villa after Olivier Giroud opened the scoring from the spot.
PLUS: Alexandre Pato is keen on a Premier League switch AND Jurgen Klopp hails the amazing atmosphere at Anfield after the draw with West Brom.
Here are all the latest Reds stories from today's Daily Mirror and other news outlets...
Kiessling swoop?
Stefan Kiessling, a reported target of Liverpool, has hinted he may have played his last game for Bayer Leverkusen.
The 31-year-old is being kept out of the team by Javier Hernandez, which could leave the door open for the Reds to swoop in January.
"I’ve got to be honest and say we’ll have to see," Kiessling told Sky Sport Deutschland.
In-form: Javier Hernandez is keeping Kiessling out of Leverkusen's team
"I want to be playing a bit of football at the end of my career and that is why I’ve got to give things good thought.
"I’ll speak to the bosses and see what the best solution is."
Pato interest
Alexandre Pato has stoked up talk of a potential move to Liverpool by admitting he wants to play in the Premier League.
He revealed he has spoken to Brazil teammates and current Reds stars Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino about playing in England.
"One day I would like to come to England because I think the championship [the Premier League] is the No1 in the world," Pato told the Telegraph.
Incoming? Alexandre Pato could be on his way to Anfield
“I don’t think the physical part of English football would be a problem. When you get the ball, you need to be ready. The defenders here are very tough. I like that.
"I have spoken to Willian, Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and David Luiz before. I think Brazilian players can play here."
Klopp snubs Pulis
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp refused to shake hands with Tony Pulis at the end of his side's match with West Brom and admitted they had exchanged words during the game, writes Tyrone Marshall.
The Reds drew 2-2 with West Brom at Anfield in a bad-tempered encounter, which saw Dejan Lovren stretchered off with a knee injury following a tackle from Craig Gardner.
Klopp reacted angrily to the challenge from the Baggies midfielder, but afterwards absolved him of responsibility.
Fuming: Klopp and Pulis didn't shake hands at full-time
But the German didn't shake hands with his opposite number and said he needed time to cool down.
“I don’t have the biggest talent to remember things like this," Klopp said.
"I only talk about football. I wanted to go to my team. Do with this [story] what you want. We had some words in the game and sometimes it takes more than a few seconds to cool down. Usually I shake hands. It was not a friendly game.”
Klopp hails Anfield atmosphere in West Brom draw
Jurgen Klopp said the atmosphere inside Anfield during Liverpool's 2-2 draw with West Brom 'felt like an explosion'.
The Reds boss had called for a 'special atmosphere' before the game and the Kop responded as they raised the roof to try and inspire their side, writes Tyrone Marshall.
“Yesterday we spoke about the special atmosphere, and it was a special atmosphere," he said.
Salute: Klopp and Liverpool's players paid tribute to the supporters
“It felt like three points, I know it's only one. This moment it was like an explosion. It was the best atmosphere since I've been here, I really enjoyed it.
“At the end I just wanted to say thank you, I don't know if this is normal in England or things like this.
“But together with the team it was great. It was absolutely great."
Lovren injury
Dejan Lovren was stretchered off in Liverpool's 2-2 draw with West Brom after a tackle by Craig Gardner that left blood pouring from his knee, writes Tyrone Marshall.
The 26-year-old received treatment on the pitch before being taken off on a stretcher after the incident which happened around 15 minutes from the end of the game at Anfield, with West Brom leading 2-1 at the time.
Crocked: Lovren picked up a nasty looking knee injury
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was furious with Gardner's tackle on the Croatia defender, but referee Craig Pawson took no action against the Albion midfielder.
Lovren was left in a crumpled heap on the floor after the tackle, with blood coming from what looked like a deep cut to the knee.
He only recently regained his place in Klopp's starting XI thanks to an injury to Mamadou Sakho.
Jurgen Klopp has revealed why he refused to shake hands with Tony Pulis after his Liverpool side drew 2-2 with West Brom at Anfield on Sunday.
Klopp's side needed a deflected Divock Origi goal deep into injury time to rescue a point and the German said it had not been a "friendly game" in the Premier League.
"I don't have the biggest talent to remember things like this," Klopp said.
"I only talk about football. I wanted to go to my team."
Klopp and Pulis had clashed angrily during the game, which was marred by a bad injury suffered by Dejan Lovren following a heavy challenge from Craig Gardner.
"We had some words in the game and sometimes it takes more than a few seconds to cool down," Klopp said.
"Usually I shake hands. It was not a friendly game."
The Liverpool manager did acknowledge the tackle that hurt Lovren was a fair challenge.
"It was like this the whole game, on the edge of everything. But he played the ball," he said.
"If he didn't play the ball, we don't have to talk about this. We hope the injury is not too serious.
"We have to wait for the scan. I spoke to [Lovren] and he said it felt not too bad."
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says he must wait to discover the extent of Dejan Lovren’s injury after attempting to play down a touchline row with West Bromwich Albion counterpart Tony Pulis.
A bad-tempered 2-2 draw at Anfield was overshadowed by an injury to central defender Lovren, who was carried off on a stretcher after being caught by Albion midfielder Craig Gardner.
Both Klopp and Pulis said afterwards that Gardner got the ball, with the injury caused by the midfielder’s follow through.
There were heated exchanges between the two managers on the touchline after that, with Pulis disappearing down the tunnel at full-time without shaking the hand of Klopp, who then became embroiled in an argument with Albion assistant head coach David Kemp.
Origi, Sturridge fire Liverpool into last four
On Lovren’s injury, Klopp said: “We don’t know too much. It is a cut, everybody can see. We hope it is not too serious. We have to wait for the scan, see if it is swollen or not. I spoke to him, it felt not too bad.
“He (Gardner) played the ball, a millisecond before he hit Dejan. It was like the whole game, on the edge of everything. But he played the ball. If he didn’t play the ball, we don’t have to talk about this.”
Klopp insisted there was no controversy about the lack of a handshake with Pulis at the end of the match.
He added: “I wanted to go to my team. Do with this what you want. We had some words during the game.
Liverpool’s Sturridge sidelined with hamstring strain
“Sometimes it takes more than a few seconds to cool down. If you want to make a big story of this, please. Usually I shake hands. I did not today, because it was not a friendly game. But I wish him all the best.”
Klopp was clearly emotional at the end of the match, responding to Divock Origi’s 96th-minute equaliser by punching the air and urging the home fans to encourage the team towards victory.
At full-time, he gathered his players together to salute the Kop.
He said: “It was the best atmosphere in my time in England, absolutely great and I wanted to say thank you.”
Jordan Henderson gave Liverpool the lead before Albion scored twice from corners, with Craig Dawson turning in a loose ball after goalkeeper Simon Mignolet’s error, and Jonas Olsson flicking in at the near post from a Chris Brunt delivery.
Klopp added: “I don’t know how many of our goals (conceded) are from set-pieces, it’s something like 98 per cent.
“I said to Simon at half time, if somebody says it was your fault, it is not true, it is my fault. I want a keeper who comes out and tries for everything.”
Pulis defended Gardner over the challenge on Lovren.
“The two worst tackles in the game were James Milner’s challenge on Gardner and Martin Skrtel’s challenge on Salomon Rondon. Gardner has played the ball.”
Pulis was unconcerned about the touchline confrontations with Klopp, though.
“He is animated,” the Albion boss said. “I have been animated all my life on the bench. I have no problems with that. We have come here, tried to be resilient.
“I don’t think there was a booking during the game. The big disappointment was they got that goal.”
Dejan Lovren is expected to have a scan on Monday evening after sustaining a knee injury in Liverpool's 2-2 draw with West Brom.
The defender was stretchered off in the second half at Anfield following a tackle from Craig Gardner and required oxygen and a leg brace.
Doctors have to wait until the bruising has gone down before performing the scan but could have updates on the severity of the injury on Tuesday morning.
Liverpool's Dejan Lovren and West Bromwich Albion's Jose Salomon Rondon (left) battle for possession
After the game, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: "It's a hard situation, he hit him full, but we hope it's not too serious. It's a cut, and blue at this moment. We hope it's not too serious."
Gardner caught the Liverpool defender high up his shin but West Brom boss Tony Pulis felt the midfielder played the ball in the challenge, and highlighted two other tackles on his own players that he felt merited closer scrutiny.
"There's two challenges we are very disappointed with, the James Milner challenge on Gardner, where it looks a very poor challenge, and then Martin Skrtel's challenge on Salomon Rondon," Pulis said.
"That's completely over the ball, so I'd look at those two. I think Gardner's challenge, he actually plays the ball. The other two, they don't play the ball."
