Liverpool August squad rankings: Sturridge falls, Mane rises
By Tom Bogert
7. Joel Matip (up one place)
Fans had to wait two matches, which in today’s ADD-centric culture is a bit of a problem, but Matip showed what we’d all been waiting for: a strong presence in defense, a real spine to the team. With Dean Lovren, Liverpool might actually finally have a reputable central defense pairing for the first time in what feels like my entire life.
Who was the last pair that incited this much excitement? Jamie Carragher-Sami Hyypia? Martin Skrtel-Danny Agger?
Matip helped keep a clean sheet against Burton (huge accomplishment, I know) then had a huge hand in suppressing Harry Kane when Liverpool drew with Tottenham.
The Cameroonian’s defending was sleek, he was deceptively well at keeping possession and transitioning the ball from defense to the midfield. He added a presence ahead of Simon Mignolet that almost made me accepting of the fact that Simon Mignolet was in goal. Almost.
On attacking set pieces Matip will be an absolutely menace to the opposition. When have Liverpool had a dead ball target like this? It never seemed like Andy Carroll nor Christian Benteke thrived on set pieces but Skrtel was adept in the air. Is it him, is Skrtel the last real threat Liverpool had?
If that’s the case, Matip is even better. Maybe this is nothing we’ve seen in the past few years. The defender was regularly on the scoresheet for Schalke and is expected to be for Liverpool as well. He nearly won a penalty against Tottenham from a corner and knocked a header off the crossbar. I’m so ready for this.
Next: 6. Jordan Henderson