Liverpool new boy Marko Grujic taken to hospital with head injury during defeat by Chelsea

MARKO GRUJIC was taken to hospital with suspected concussion after suffering a blow to the head in Liverpool’s 1-0 International Champions Cup loss to Chelsea in Los Angeles.

The Anfield new boy was involved in a nasty collision with Bertrand Traore just before half-time – and has no recollection of the incident.

Serbian star Grujic, 20, signed for £5.1million from Crevna Zvezda, was replaced by Adam Lallana and afterwards Liverpool boss Juren Klopp revealed:

“The biggest problem for me in this moment is that Marko Grujic is in hospital because he can’t remember anything.

“That’s not too cool.

“Hopefully it’s not too serious but, of course, a young boy in this situation is not too cool. Injuries after games like this in pre-season is the biggest problem obviously.

“That’s a challenge that can happen and is unlucky, but not too good for us.”

Liverpool’s friendly with Chelsea was a feisty one, with the referee brandishing six yellow cards and sending off Cesc Fabregas for a late lunge on Ragar Klavan.

Klopp confirmed that the defender only suffered a knock and insisted that the game did not get out of hand.

“It was normal intensity with a few hard challenges,” he said. “All of the players are not in 100 per cent shape so are sometimes a little bit late in the challenges, that’s how it is.

“The ref thought from the beginning he should show early yellow cards. I don’t think it was too hard. It was far away from a friendly game and that’s OK, that’s why we are here.”

On Fabregas’ dismissal, Klopp added: “It’s a red card. He came by us in the dressing room and said sorry. He came too late in the challenge, of course. Sometimes in life if you are too late you get a red card, especially in football. That’s how it was.”

Klopp also revealed that defender Joel Matip is set to make a return to action after missing Liverpool’s last two pre-season games with an ankle problem.

“Matip will be ready for the start of the season,” he said. “In the first two-and-a-half weeks of pre-season he was really good. Now he’s been out for a week.

“He trained today so hopefully he will be back in team training soon.”