LIVERPOOL -- Jurgen Klopp said defender Dejan Lovren was substituted at half-time in Sunday's 2-2 draw with West Ham United at Anfield as a precaution.
Lovren was replaced by Ragnar Klavan after complaining of cramp, with Klopp saying he could not risk putting the centre-back out for the second half.
"He said he had a cramp," Klopp told a news conference. "In the ear of the medical department this is a hamstring issue -- it was in that region.
"Dejan wanted to carry on, but we cannot take the risk in this situation. Hopefully, we took him [off] early enough."
Third-placed Liverpool lost further ground in the Premier League title race following the draw, with Chelsea and Arsenal both having won.
The Reds took an early lead through Adam Lallana before the Hammers turned the contest around with first-half goals from Dimitri Payet and Michail Antonio.
But Divock Origi netted his fourth goal in as many fixtures minutes soon after half time to earn a point.