Dejan Lovren has admitted to taking five painkillers to get through games as the Liverpool defender battles a series of injuries that prevent him from training.
The 28-year-old says back and achilles injuries have left him in terrible pain and forced him to medicate in order to play. He missed the Premier League games against Manchester City and Burnley but took painkillers in order to get on the field in the win over Leicester last Saturday and Liverpool’s midweek Champions League draw at Spartak Moscow.
“I have problems with my whole body for the last two weeks, my back and now I have hurt my achilles tendon,” the centre‑back told the Croatian paper Sportske Novosti.
“I am taking pills so I can play – five before every game. I play but I cannot train at all. That’s why I skipped matches against Manchester City and Burnley.”
Liverpool’s defence has been very leaky, conceding 17 goals this season, with Jürgen Klopp unable to rely on a settled back line.