Jermaine Jenas hailed Joel Matip as ‘so underrated’ on Twitter after impressing at Arsenal as while Liverpool supporters know he is a ‘top player’, the defender can go unrecognised.
But that was not the case at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night, as the Cameroon enforcer helped win 2-0. Mikel Arteta’s side put Jurgen Klopp’s men under the cosh in the first-half, but the Anfield natives rallied to respond in the second period in north London.
Matip’s efforts beside Virgil van Dijk in front of Alisson’s goal caught the eye of many to be named the Man of the Match. He produced a raft of strong clearing headers and kept a lid on Alexandre Lacazette. He also helped Trent Alexander-Arnold against Gabriel Martinelli.
No player for either side offered more clearances than Matip (7) as Liverpool shut Arsenal out, per SofaScore. He also blocked a shot for a 13th top-flight clean sheet so far this term.
Jermaine Jenas feels ‘top’ Liverpool player Joel Matip is ‘so underrated’
Matip’s performance as Liverpool beat Arsenal on Wednesday night came amid a purple patch for the 30-year-old. The Premier League named him as the Player of the Month for February after helping to three clean sheets over four games, while scoring against Leeds.
He has now opened 23 of the Reds’ 29 top-flight fixtures so far this season. It marks a vast increase on the nine of 10 appearances he made last term. It is also the first time since the 2018/19 season he has made 23+ appearances and the first time since ‘16/17 to start 18+.
Yet despite his increased volume of appearances, a Player of the Month-worthy February and impressing at Arsenal, Jenas still feels Matip can go unrecognised outside of Liverpool.
“Liverpool fans know that he’s a top player, but Joel Matip is so underrated!” wrote Jenas.
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