Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says hooking Dejan Lovren at Tottenham last season brought them closer.

Klopp admits Lovren was upset with the decision.

But ahead of tomorrow's clash, he said: "He came closer to his potential.

"I was never in doubt about it. But with this, what people would say, not consistent in the past, very good, then not that good, this perspective it was a very important game.

"He was not good, I could have changed five or six players, he didn't like it, it helped our relationship.

"He still has my support 100 percent, not much talking about these situations. It was only about how and what I think about him.

"That could help him, my opinion of him was high, his very average, unfortunately he is not fit at the moment.

"He will be back in an intense period, with seven games in three weeks, I'm sure he'll be back in this period."