Jamie Carragher has told Sky Sports that he thinks that Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will include Joel Matip in the starting lineup against Manchester City on Sunday.
The former Liverpool star, who now works as a pundit for Sky Sports, believes that Matip has been fit, and that Klopp has been waiting for the match against City to use him, adding that the defender is injured quite often.
The Reds will lock horns with City away from home at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League on Sunday.
Carragher told Sky Sports: “I think he’ll go with Matip, the big-game experience, and he wasn’t shy in putting him straight in against Everton, as well, another tough game for Liverpool away from home.
“The only thing is fitness and playing games, but I don’t think that’s ever really been a problem for Matip because he’s injured so often he’s always in that position where he’s coming back without having had the full training programme or games under his belt or a pre-season because he is very injury prone.
“I actually think Matip has possibly been ready for the last game or two and the manager has almost kept him in reserve for the City game and making sure he’s got two recognised senior centre-backs for that City game. I fully expect Matip to play in this game.”
Joel Matip to start?
Matip is a senior defender at Liverpool, and the 29-year-old is likely to start for Liverpool against City.
True, the Cameroonian is not at the level of Virgil van Dijk, but he is a very good defender who will have to be a leader against City
Matip is likely to play alongside Joe Gomez at the back, and the two defenders have to be on top of their game against arguably the Reds’ main title challengers.
City have a very good attacking team, and playing at home even in an empty stadium will give Pep Guardiola’s side a slight advantage.
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