Dejan Lovren unscathed after playing in Liverpool U23 win ahead of first-team clash with Man City
Tuesday 14 March 2017 08:57, UK
Dejan Lovren played 75 minutes for Liverpool U23s during their 2-0 win over Chelsea U23s on Monday, ahead of the first-team clash away to Manchester City on Nissan Super Sunday.
The centre-back has missed the last five games for Jurgen Klopp's side after suffering with a knee injury and a sore back, but came through the Premier League 2 match without any visible complaint.
Indeed, Klopp was in the stands to watch the victory, with Marko Grujic and Joe Gomez - also on the injury comeback trail - in the side alongside Lovren, as well as youngsters Sheyi Ojo and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Liverpool U23s were largely untested by the young Blues during the game at Prenton Park, with Harry Wilson slotting home from the penalty spot in the 21st minute to give the youth side the lead.
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Alexander-Arnold then showed Klopp what he could do as he curled home a delightful free-kick bang on the 70-minute mark to seal a victory for the home side.
Lovren was replaced by Nathaniel Phillips five minutes later after a fine shift from the defender as he continued to get vital playing minutes under his belt.
The Croatia international could now be in contention for Sunday's meeting with fellow top-four rivals Man City at the Etihad Stadium live on Sky Sports, as the Reds look for their third successive Premier League victory.
Pep Guardiola's men are just ahead of the Reds by a point in the final two spots of the Champions League places, with a game in hand ahead of the Nissan Super Sunday meeting.
