Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren have both been suffering with injuries (Picture: Getty)

Jurgen Klopp has revealed that Joel Matip has returned to training but ruled Dejan Lovren out of Liverpool’s clash with Brighton.

Liverpool are severely lacking in options at the back with Fabinho set to start alongside Virgil van Dijk against Chris Hughton’s side this weekend.

Van Dijk had been struggling with an illness but has returned to full fitness, while Matip and Lovren remain serious doubts for the Premier League encounter.

Matip, who has been out since the beginning of December with a broken collar bone, is back in full training again and could feature at the Amex Stadium.

However, Lovren looks set to miss Liverpool’s matches with Brighton and Crystal Palace after sustaining a hamstring injury versus Wolves.

‘Joel trained yesterday for the first time with the team. That’s really good but we must see and decide day-by-day how he’s doing.

‘[Jordan] Henderson will train today for the first time. We’ll see what that means exactly. Adam [Lallana] out, Dejan out, Joe [Gomez] out. That’s the siutuation.’

Jordan Henderson is set to return to training (Picture: Getty)

Asked if Lovren’s injury was serious, Klopp replied: ‘I don’t know.

‘Yes, otherwise he could play but it’s not that serious. It’s a massive thing obviously but I would expect him back after Crystal Palace

‘I’m not sure, but we’ll have to see.’

Klopp is not overly concerned about playing Fabinho as a makeshift central defender alongside Van Dijk.

‘If Fabinho has to play as a centre-half what we want is the natural understanding of the game,’ he said.

‘If you are a holding 6 or a centre-half with the ball it is easier.’

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