Although Joel Matip’s significant injury may force Jurgen Klopp to make a move in the January transfer window, his team is closing in on Arsenal at the top of the standings.
With a vital victory over Sheffield United, Liverpool kept up the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal; nevertheless, the news that Joel Matip will be sidelined for the season marred the Reds’ week.
On Wednesday, Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai’s goals gave Jurgen Klopp’s team a well-earned victory over the relegation-fighting Blades, currently led by Chris Wilder. Unfortunately for Klopp, Matip was sidelined after rupturing his ACL during the weekend’s victory over Fulham.
Klopp may now decide to change his intentions for the January transfer window as a result of this setback. But before anything else, his team has to make their way to Crystal Palace for Saturday’s early kickoff. The most recent information from Anfield is shown below.
Van Dijk pledges to Matip
Joel Matip was dealt the same ACL injury Virgil van Dijk once had, and he has pledged to assist him get past this ordeal.
After suffering an injury in October 2020, Reds captain Van Dijk was sidelined for nine months until July of the following year, during which he missed the European Championships. Matip’s contract with Liverpool is set to expire at the end of the current campaign, so he now faces a similar layoff.
However, Van Dijk has already made contact with his teammate and pledged to support him during his recuperation. Van Dijk remarked, “It’s tough knowing what he will go through now over the next weeks and months.”
But we’re here to support him. We’ll be there for him whenever he needs us. Let’s first and foremost hope that the procedure goes well and that the road to recovery begins.
Judge Klopp now lacks backup at the back in case Liverpool encounters another injury problem similar to the one that plagued them before, as Matip is out.
Ben Davies and Ozan Kabak were brought in by Klopp as emergency reinforcements back in January 2021 along with Van Dijk, Matip, and Joe Gomez.
Things aren’t at that stage just yet, while Klopp does have Jarell Quansah available for selection, though the Liverpool boss has already identified a possible new signing in January.
Wolfsburg defender Maxence Lacroix has emerged as a target and Liverpool could land his services for around £25m – though the club hope to negotiate that fee down, while Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi is also on their radar.
