‘Left at home’: Klopp says Liverpool player won’t be in his side’s squad tonight

Follow us on Google Discover

Jurgen Klopp has confirmed to Liverpool’s official website that Joel Matip has been left at home and won’t play against Ajax this evening.

Matip has not always been Liverpool’s most reliable defender fitness wise.

And it seems that Klopp simply didn’t want to risk the central defender in the Champions League, even after Virgil van Dijk’s injury.

“We have a lot of players here but some not and Joel is one of the players we have not here,” Klopp said.

“So, it was always clear after the history he had that it’s not likely he will start again after the 90 minutes at Everton. Now we left him at home but there’s a good chance that he could be involved at the weekend again.”

Matip’s absence is a blow to Liverpool as they only have limited central defensive options without Van Dijk.

Joe Gomez and Fabinho look almost certain to be the Reds’ centre-back pairing of choice this evening, now that Matip is unavailable.

With Matip and Van Dijk out, Liverpool’s lack of options in central defence has been exposed – as Klopp can only call upon youngsters as alternatives to Gomez or Fabinho at the back.

And their new look defensive pairing are likely to be tested this evening, as Ajax have posed a real threat in an attacking sense in the Champions League in recent years.