Liverpool dealt yet another major injury blow after Van Dijk and Thiago
By Bence Bocsak
Liverpool’s luck is getting worse and worse.
The script couldn’t have been written. It is the stuff of nightmares for Liverpool Football Club. Following the confirmation of Virgil Van Dijk’s long term injury, and the possible exclusion of Thiago in the team, the Reds seemed to have been dealt yet another injury blow.
And it is an area where they are already lacking in depth.
We all knew it was coming. Let’s be honest. With Joel Matip‘s track record it was always going to happen.
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But no one would have presumed it would happen so quickly.
According to the latest reports, the Cameroonian centre-back has also joined Van Dijk and Thiago in the club’s injury list.
A video has surfaced online via Empire of the Kop showing Matip entering a hospital facility ahead of a purported scan.
There have been no details about the nature of his injury, but the signs are not looking good.
With the centre-back having just come back from a relatively long term injury, it will be a major blow to Jurgen Klopp and his men.
It will force the German to play Fabinho at the back with Joe Gomez who has been in somewhat shaky form recently.
If either of them picks up an injury, it will leave the Reds without a recognised first team centre-back.
Klopp will have to turn towards youth.
Players like Rhys Williams who made his debut against Lincoln or Nathan Philipps. And another option would be Billy Koumetio who is only 17 years old but is highly regarded and made his debut in pre-season for the club.
It is not the scenario the Reds want to be in.
Other options might involve playing Jordan Henderson as a makeshift centre-back, which could theoretically work. Giorginio Wijnaldum has also played as a centre-back under Jurgen Klopp a few seasons ago.
Nonetheless, the Reds will be hoping Joel Matip’s injury is just a precaution and that the Cameroonian has not picked up another severe injury.
Though it is looking more and more likely that the Reds might have to put a young centre-back on the bench against Ajax on Wednesday.
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