Liverpool's Lovren admits to 'taking pills' to get through games

Dejan Lovren is trying to play through the pain.

Lovren confessed to Croatian newspaper Sportske that a back injury and problem with his Achilles tendon are putting him in a situation where he must take pills in order to take the pitch. The Balkan defender missed Liverpool's Premier League games against Manchester City and Burnley, but appeared in the Reds' victory at Leicester City and draw at Spartak Moscow in the Champions League.

"I have problems with my whole body for the last two weeks, my back and now I have hurt my Achilles tendon," Lovren said, according to the Observer. "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."

Lovren, who joined Liverpool from Southampton in 2014, put pen to paper on a long-term contract with Liverpool in April. The GNK Dinamo product boasts four Premier League appearances in his fourth season at Anfield, during which time the Reds allowed five goals.