Liverpool brought the Dutchman in to Anfield for big money this month.
Reds legend and current ESPN pundit Steve Nicol explained why Jürgen Klopp needs to play Joel Matip alongside Virgil van Dijk, if he is to guide his side to a successful campaign this season, as quoted by the Daily Express.
Liverpool have been mightily impressive going forward this season, but their fragile defensive displays have really cost them, and prevented them from staying within strike distance of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side.
The arrival of the towering Dutchman is expected to vastly improve the Merseyside outfit from a defensive aspect, and in turn, help them make a sustained push for major honours this season.
Nicol, though, explained why it will be vitally important for Klopp to pair his new £75 million signing with Joel Matip, if he is to truly shore up his defence, as quoted by the Daily Express:
“I think it should be pretty clear that it should be Matip. No (not Lovren), not at all. I think it’s pretty straightforward, I think the two of them will make a good partnership.”
Only time will tell if Matip remains as Van Dijk’s partner in the long-term at Anfield, but the worry for Klopp is that he doesn’t actually have too many other options.
Dejan Lovren and Ragnar Klaven are decent centre-backs, but have often been prone to making mistakes, so it could be a wise move from the German to follow Nicol’s advice, and keep the Cameroonian and the Dutchman together as a pair at the heart of Liverpool’s defence.
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