Liverpool’s Joel Matip says he already has an understanding with Dejan Lovren

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Matip made his competitive debut in the 5-0 win over Burton Albion, partnering Dejan Lovren at centre-back.

Burton Albion’s Calum Butcher in action with Liverpool’s Joel Matip

Liverpool defender Joel Matip believes that he and Dejan Lovren can form an effective centre-back partnership over the course of the season, he told the Liverpool Echo.

Matip arrived at the club on a free transfer from Schalke this summer and made his full debut in the 5-0 win over Burton Albion in the EFL Cup.

It was perhaps the most trouble free introduction to English football that Matip could have asked for, though he was called upon for a headed clearance off the line in the closing stages to preserve the Reds’ clean sheet.

Liverpool’s Dejan Lovren in action with Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek

The defender told the Echo: “I enjoyed playing alongside Dejan.

“He’s a very good player. I hope we can have a good partnership together.

“I think there’s a good understanding there already. At times he covered me, at other times I covered him.

“We played together at the start of the pre-season so I think it will be good.”

Liverpool’s Joel Matip in action with Burton Albion’s Marcus Harness

There were signs of an understanding in the win over Burton in terms of recovering possession, and on the face of things the duo seemed to communicate pretty well.

Both players seem comfortable on the ball and pretty good in the air, something which Jurgen Klopp will certainly want from his central defenders as well as being solid at the back.

Ragnar Klavan has been the man to partner Lovren during the first couple of games of the season, and given the Reds have conceded five goals in the process, it suggests that particular partnership needs some work even if there were positive signs in pre-season.

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp during the warm up before the match

Given that Matip’s arrival was announced in the second half of last season, it would suggest that Klopp would like him to be a regular starter for much of the campaign. Had he not picked up an ankle injury during one pre-season fixture, it seems likely that he will have started the opening game against Arsenal.

Sterner tests are likely to come for Matip and it will be interesting to see if he retains his place for the trip to Tottenham at the weekend, a huge game for both clubs at this early stage of the season.