Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has appeared to confirm that the season “is not long enough” for one of his players to return from injury.
The Reds, who currently sit top of the Premier League with 67 points, have been without a number of important players during key spells of the 2023/24 campaign.
Andy Robertson was out for over 100 days following shoulder surgery, while Stefan Bajcetic, Ibrahima Konate and Trent Alexander-Arnold, amongst others, have missed chunks of the season through injury.
Another player who continues to miss out is Joel Matip. The 32-year-old ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during a dramatic 4-3 victory over Fulham on December 3.
The German-born defender, who subsequently underwent a successful operation, is expected to miss the remainder of the 2023/24 season, according to Liverpool’s official website.
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| Image credit: Getty |
Matip, who previously enjoyed a productive run in the first-team alongside Virgil van Dijk, is currently in the final year of his contract at Anfield.
And speaking ahead of their Premier League clash against Sheffield United on Thursday, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp suggested Matip’s season was all but over.
“Joel is running. He hates that, but he is able to run again,” he said. “He’s now pain-free, but it all takes time. I don’t think the season is long enough for him.”
Several days after Matip picked up the serious injury against Fulham, Klopp was asked about their defensive situation as they prepared for an action-packed fixture list – and it’s fair to say he was agitated by the question.
At the start of the season, Matip opened up on his desire to stay at Liverpool.
“Here in Liverpool, with these absolutely top conditions, you can’t just leave,” he told Sky Germany.
“I also feel incredibly comfortable here in my private life. I think it’s desirable not to constantly change clubs. But everyone has to decide that for themselves. In any case, I find consistency helpful.”
He added: “If in the end it was just [Schalke and Liverpool], I would be perfectly happy. But in football you never know for sure.”
No agreement is currently in place to renew the defender’s contract.
Featured Image Credit: Liverpool FC – Getty Images