Liverpool defender Joël Matip will reportedly miss the rest of the 2019/20 season due to a foot injury.
Matip will miss the remaining seven league games for Jürgen Klopp’s side after sustaining the injury in the 0-0 draw with Everton at Goodison Park.
Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com, Matip said:
“This season I will be not back on the pitch but for next season, I hope I’m going to be quite early a direct help for the team.”
Matip, despite all the success he has experienced at Anfield since his arrival in 2016, has been quite unlucky with injuries.
The former Cameroon international signed for Liverpool the summer of 2016 on a free transfer from Bundesliga side FC Schalke 04. While he has enjoyed some prolonged periods in the starting eleven, it seems an injury always occurs just before he can be considered the first-choice partner in central defence for Virgil van Dijk.
Matip put in an exceptional performance in last season’s 4-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final at Anfield. He also started the final in Madrid and laid on the pass for Divock Origi’s goal to make it 2-0 close to the end as The Reds lifted their sixth European Cup.
Since the Champions League final, however, Matip has only started 8 Premier League games. This, mainly, has been due to recurring injury problems coupled with the excellent form of Joe Gomez who has started in his place.
Matip is still only 28, turning 29 in August, so, as a centre-half, he may still have some of his best years to come. If he can maintain fitness from next season onwards, Matip will remain a valuable piece of Klopp’s Liverpool jigsaw.
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