The Liverpool defender is out for six weeks it seems.
Liverpool have been rocked by the news that Joel Matip is ruled out for the next six weeks.
The Cameroon defender is set to undergo surgery on a collarbone fracture, after playing 90 minutes in Liverpool’s 1-0 Champions League win over Napoli last night.
Matip, who joined the Reds from Schalke in 2016, is no stranger to the treatment room, with injury sidelining him for much of his two-and-a-half year spell on Merseyside.
But worryingly, Joe Gomez, who had partnered Virgil van Dijk in central defence for most of the season, is also out until the New Year.
Here’s how Liverpool fans – whose side host Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday – reacted to the club’s announcement:
Dejan Lovren is the obvious candidate to partner Van Dijk when the Red Devils visit Merseyside on the weekend, and although the Croat, who helped his country to a World Cup final in the summer, is significantly less worrisome than he used to be, there is always that element of doubt.
Plus, the former Southampton stalwart has only started one Premier League game since October, so rustiness is a possibility.
Liverpool sit top of the Premier League, 16 points ahead of Jose Mourinho’s side back in sixth.
Bigger tests lie ahead for Matip and Virgil van Dijk as a centre-back partnership.
Klopp’s side face Napoli in a must-win Champions League clash next week, before facing Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City in the Premier League between then and January 3.
It’s a massive month for Liverpool and Matip will need to be at his absolute best, but the German manager seems confident in his player’s abilities.
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