Liverpool move sparks deeper concern over Joel Matip injury
By David Gate
Liverpool fans are concerned over the injury of Joel Matip after the Reds move to recall defender Nat Phillips from his loan at Stuttgart.
Liverpool are recalling 22-year-old center back Nat Phillips from Stuttgart where he has been on loan. However, that move is causing fans to worry about the knee injury of Joel Matip.
The Cameroonian has already missed more games than expected. he was predicted to return in December but has missed the last 16 games with no firm date for his return to first team training or when we will see him next at Anfield.
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He was close to a return at the end of November before the club ordered another scan as his recovery was not on schedule. Since then Dejan Lovren has picked up an injury leaving Jurgen Klopp with just Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez as first team center back options.
The club confirmed today that Nat Phillips would return after playing 11 games in the 2. Bundesliga. He has received good grades from sports metric websites but the comments from Stuttgart fans are that he is slow and not proficient at bringing the ball out from the back.
This move may also have to do with Sepp van den Berg struggling to match the physical nature of first team football in his Carabao Cup opportunities. He is highly rated but is only 18-years-old and will need to develop more before Klopp wants to use him in the first team.
Ki-Jana Hoever is nearer to the first team than his countryman but he is even younger at just 17-years-old and the manager would likely prefer to blood him in at right back.
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Phillips provides more physicality and experience as cover for center back position – though fans will be dismayed if he has to play minutes in the Premier League as the Reds push for their first league title in 30 years.