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STOKE-ON-TRENT — Dejan Lovren has urged Liverpool to show a stronger mental streak as they seek to recover from their latest disappointment in tonight’s League Cup semi-final first leg at Stoke City.

Manager Jurgen Klopp’s hopes of ending his first season in English football with a top-four English Premier League finish and a place in next season’s Champions League suffered a blow when Liverpool started the new year with a 2-0 defeat at West Ham United on Saturday.

The German was angered by his team’s display, but his debut season at Anfield could yet end with silverware as Liverpool stand just two games from a Wembley meeting with either Manchester City or neighbours Everton.

Lovren acknowledged that his manager had every right to vent his anger following the West Ham game, the Croatian centre-back saying: “We are disappointed. It wasn’t the best performance from us and we need to be angry with ourselves.

Fixtures (all 10pm)

Today: Stoke City v Liverpool

Tomorrow: Everton v Manchester City