Liverpool have ended Joel Matip’s stuttering career
Liverpool has ended the career of defender Joel Matip after their January transfer window exploits.
The club moved quickly to secure the signings of Ben Davies and Ozan Kabak as it was revealed that Matip has suffered a season-ending ankle injury.
He joins Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez on the long-term crock list, which left Liverpool will no recognized central defenders in the squad. Until two days ago.
With Kabak and Davies in the team, Jurgen Klopp will have something he hasn’t had in months – a decision to make.
Will Klopp continue with one of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho at the back and rotate between Kabak and Davies as they get used to the team and the Premier League, or do both go in at the deep end?
Furthermore, where does this leave Matip and Liverpool? Van Dijk, Gomez, Kabak, and Davies will make for an interesting mix of talents next season, and while Matip is a fine player, his injury record leaves a lot to be desired.
Liverpool have ended Joel Matip
The signing of those two men has ended his Anfield career. Klopp is unlikely to want five senior center-backs in the squad for 2021/22, and a decision will have to be made on one of them.
Theoretically, Kabak could head back to Schalke, but he’s just 20-years-old and Michael Edwards has negotiated an excellent price for the Turkish starlet. Kabak is currently on loan, and the Reds have an option to buy at the end of the season. His long-term future is surely on Anfield.
That leaves Davies and Matip fighting for that final place in the squad and ordinarily, Matip would win that battle every day. Except he’s not fit for battle. He can’t even lace his own boots without picking up an injury.
Ben Davies will have to wait five games for his debut. dark. Next
Matip is in a difficult place. He’s 29, and his body isn’t going to get any better. It’s pretty clear that Liverpool has ended his stuttering Anfield career with their January transfer window dealings.