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Dejan Lovren has not suffered any ligament damage - but the Liverpool defender is still facing around three weeks on the sidelines.

A scan on his right knee has provided a welcome boost for the £20million centre-back who left Anfield on crutches on Sunday after being stretchered off in the dramatic 2-2 draw with West Brom.

Fears that he was facing a long absence have been allayed but there will be no quick return to action for Lovren, who was the victim of a reckless challenge from Baggies midfielder Craig Gardner.

A gash in his knee required five stitches and with major bruising and swelling around the joint Reds medical staff believe the Croatia international won’t play again until January.

Trying to put an exact time frame on Lovren’s comeback is problematic because it all depends on how quickly he heals.

However, he looks set to miss the entire festive programme as Jurgen Klopp’s side face four Premier League matches against Watford, Leicester, Sunderland and West Ham in the space of 13 days.

The good news for Klopp is that Lovren’s absence coincides with the return to fitness of fellow centre-back Mamadou Sakho.

The France international is back in full training having missed the past five weeks with a knee injury. Sakho is now in line to secure an immediate recall to the starting line up when the Reds travel to Watford on Sunday.