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Liverpool vs Bayern: Jurgen Klopp waiting on Dejan Lovren injury news for Champions League clash

Klopp speaks to the press ahead of the Champions League last-16 tie

Mark Critchley
Monday 18 February 2019 12:47 GMT
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Jurgen Klopp hails players' character as Liverpool surge back to winning ways

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Head shot of Eric Garcia

Eric Garcia

Washington Bureau Chief

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is still waiting to discover whether Dejan Lovren will be fit enough to play against Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Lovren has not turned out since suffering hamstring injury last month and is needed to ease a lack of viable options in the centre of defence.

Klopp is likely to turn to midfielder Fabinho if Lovren does not recover in time, with Virgil van Dijk suspended and Joe Gomez sidelined with a broken leg.

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With that, Klopp's done.

Jordan Henderson is next up on player media duties for Liverpool...

Mark Critchley18 February 2019 12:19
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Here's Henderson...

Mark Critchley18 February 2019 12:22
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Q: Missed a few games lately, feeling good?

I feel good. Before the West Ham game I had a slight problem but it was more a precaution than anything.

A few players are back from injury which is a big plus for us.

Mark Critchley18 February 2019 12:23
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Q: How has Keita settled in?

I think everyone can see how good he is as a player but as I know myself, Liverpool is a huge club and the Premier League is tough.

I think he's done well in certain games he's played. The manager has helped him improve and I can see the potential but it takes time to feel right.

I think over the last couple of games you can see how good he is.

Mark Critchley18 February 2019 12:24
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Q: An important few weeks coming up...

The week in Marbella was important to prepare for the next few weeks.

We've got some tough games, we know, but I feel we're ready for the challenge and then we'll see where we are at the end of the season.

Mark Critchley18 February 2019 12:25
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Q: What could you do in Marbella that you couldn't do here?

Not much different because the weather was better here.

We could be together as a group, prepare for this game and the end of the season.

The training was intense and everyone's in good shape going into tomorrow

Mark Critchley18 February 2019 12:26
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Q: No Virgil, huge miss...

Of course he's a massive miss.

I think you see how important he is for us as a team but I feel we have the quality to cope with it.

We're not just relying on our two centre-halves to defend, we do it together.

Whoever plays there will know the role and what's expected but of course he'll be a big loss.

Mark Critchley18 February 2019 12:26
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Q: Had to fill in at full back before. If you have to play centre defence tomorrow, are you ready?

Obviously I'd give it everything and be ready.

When I spoke to the manager of playing full back, it was a question of whether I'd be confident and ready.

No matter what position I'm asked to play, I'm 100 per cent ready to give everything.

I'll always be ready to play football. So if I have to play centre-half, yes I'm ready.

Mark Critchley18 February 2019 12:28
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Q: Bayern not at their best...

They're a world class team. At the same time, if we play the way we know we can then we can cause them problems.

For us as players I think it doesn't matter what people expect or people think it's more what we think, and we think Bayern will be a tough test.

Everyone needs to be at 100 per cent or we'll get nothing. We have the ability to hurt them, it's up to us to show that tomorrow night.

Mark Critchley18 February 2019 12:29
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Q: Priority this season - Premier League or Champions League?

If we have to choose, we choose both!

We prioritise game-by-game no matter what competition. Tomorrow night is the biggest game of the season, then so on and so on.

It's how we approach every game and that's what we need to do. It's not about favouring a competition. I feel we can challenge in both as best we can.

At the end of the season, we can hopefully say we're champions of one if not both.

Mark Critchley18 February 2019 12:30

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