Dejan Lovren Injury: Liverpool Defender in Training Ahead of Manchester United

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, per WhoScored. 

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.

“I’m always good for a few” – New signing Joel Matip eyeing goals for Liverpool

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.

Man of the Match: Lovren & Can share fans’ award after Crystal Palace comeback

As Liverpool battled back to win 2-1 away to Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon, Dejan Lovren and Emre Can were the players to stand out.

Despite conceding a goal early on in the second half at Selhurst Park, with Joe Ledley powering home a loose ball, Liverpool produced a resolute defensive display in Sunday’s 2-1 victory.

This included strong turns from Lovren, alongside Mamadou Sakho at centre-back, and Can, who shone in his role at the heart of the midfield.

These dominant showings earned Lovren and Can a shared Man of the Match award as supporters rated Liverpool’s performances after the game.

The pair currently boast a rating of 7.8 each, 0.6 more than any player.

Match-winner Christian Benteke, who won and converted the deciding penalty at the death, comes closest to Lovren and Can, rated at 7.3, showing intent in a central attacking role.

Just behind Benteke comes the striker’s compatriot, Simon Mignolet, with 7.2, and fellow forward Roberto Firmino, with 7.1.

Remarkably, no other player has been rated above 6.9, with Adam Lallana‘s 6.3, Alberto Moreno‘s 6.2 and Divock Origi‘s 6.5 perhaps an indication of the changing landscape of the contest.

Sent off on the hour mark, after two yellow-card offences, James Milner is currently rated at a dismal 4.1, while his midfield colleague, Jordan Henderson, has a rating of 5.2.

Jurgen Klopp‘s starting lineup are rated at an average of 6.4, 1.4 below their average rating from Wednesday night’s 3-0 win at home to Manchester City.

But with the likes of Can and Lovren in a defiant mood at Selhurst Park, Liverpool were able to battle to victory.

Liverpool news and transfer rumours: Reds target Stefan Kiessling 'hints at Bayer Leverkusen departure'

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.