Joel Matip’s ankle injury against Tottenham Hotspur adds to Liverpool’s list of miseries


Joel Matip’s ankle injury against Tottenham Hotspur adds to Liverpool’s list of miseries
Joel Matip against Tottenham Hotspur

Liverpool defeated Tottenham Hotspur comprehensively in the Premier League by 3 goals to one to climb back into the top four position. Goals from Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Trent Alexander Arnold secured all three points for the Reds.

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However centre back Joel Matip suffered an injury due to which he had to substituted in the second half. This adds to Liverpool’s list of injuries with defenders with all three senior members now injured and sidelined.

Jurgen Klopp faces a tough challenge ahead with all of Liverpool’s injuries

Jurgen Klopp faces a crisis situation

Dutch defender Virgil Van Dijk has been injured for about 3 months now after that horror challenge from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the Merseyside Derby. The absence of such an experienced campaigner is showing with ten defence lacking a leader in the mix.

Brazilian defensive midfielder Fabinho was doing exceptionally well to replace Virgil Van Dijk but he too was unable to start against Tottenham Hotspur with an injury concern. It’s quite an incredible situation for Liverpool with all their first choice centre backs including Joe Gomez out with injury.

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The Cameroonian international Joel Matip had to be substituted in the second half of the match after going down with pain in his ankle. He was partnering club captain Jordan Henderson who was playing in the defence. Manager Jurgen Klopp has spoken about the issue.

We think about everything, as you can imagine,” he said. “We think about everything the whole time. We try to do the right thing and we have to do the right thing. I am not picky but we need to find the right player. We have players still, but it’s incredible what’s happening in defence.”

What I saw today, it’s not about shape or form actually, it’s like who we are and that’s us. In the second half especially, that was us. There was a massive fight and football on top of that.

“I don’t know the numbers but apart from a few minutes in the first half, I don’t remember that they had a lot of the ball but it was always really quick with the counter-attacking and we defended really well. It was a good performance and I saw a lot of things I wanted to see.”

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Also Read: Jose Mourinho blames ‘individual defensive mistakes’ for loss against Liverpool