Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp confirms sixth star set for long-term lay off
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that defender Joel Matip’s absence will not be short after the Cameroon star hobbled off during the thrilling victory over Fulham. Matip has been added to a growing injury list at Anfield in a huge blow to Klopp.
The central defender appeared to be in huge pain as he limped off in the 69th minute. At the time, Liverpool were being held to a 2-2 stalemate but a remarkable final 10 minutes saw the Reds win 4-3 to keep pace with Premier League title challengers Arsenal and Manchester City.
Klopp will be concerned about yet another injury to his squad, though. Matip becomes the sixth player to be added to a growing list of absentees.
The German is unsure how long Matip will remain out, with the defender set to undergo a scan next week. However, it is feared that the timescale will not be short.
Asked about Matip’s injury, Klopp said: “We don’t know how long yet, no scan yet. But it won’t be a short one.”
Liverpool have been able to maintain ground on Arsenal and City despite missing several key players. Alisson Becker, Andy Robertson, Diogo Jota, Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajectic are all injured.
That did not deter Liverpool against Fulham, though, with an incredible comeback ensuring the Reds are only two points behind league leaders Arsenal. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free kick and Alexis Mac Allister’s stunning long-range volley were cancelled out by Fulham in an entertaining first-half.
Fulham appeared to have won the game when Bobby Decordova-Reid headed home in the 82nd minute. But goals from substitute Endo Wataru and a thumping Alexander-Arnold drive in the final five minutes sealed a memorable Anfield victory.
“What can I say? We played an incredible game until we didn’t anymore,” Klopp reflected afterwards. “All credit to Fulham, they did really well. Today we scored four worldies and were lucky in the end to win the game, and that tells you everything.
“I told the boys if we can keep that feeling around 3-3, when we kept believing. We wanted to win the game and I liked that, you could see it in the body language of the boys. Four goals I have never seen before in one game like this to be honest.
“The game was in control, we did really well and did a lot of good stuff but then we didn’t defend well in the moments. There was a period it was all over the place and it didn’t make much sense but the Premier League is too tough if you want to win in a convincing way.
“The second for Trent was very, very special. I really feel for Marco Silva afterwards, I think when they scored the 3-2 they thought they had it but this is Anfield and we are still there.”
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