As a sole senior centre-back option in Joel Matip remains at Jurgen Klopp’s disposal in the Liverpool FC ranks after an injury crisis adversely affecting the defending champions’ fortunes, the Cameroon international was subject to high praise from his coach.
Matip has been a solid and trusty performer for the Merseyside outfit ever since his move to Anfield in the summer of 2016 and despite several injuries curtailing the central defender’s game-time, his work ethic on the pitch, coupled with relentless energy when going forward has made Matip a fan-favourite amongst the Liverpool FC folk.
Jurgen Klopp’s recent interview to the club’s official website, Liverpoolfc.com, was a testament to the German’s admiration for Matip, with Klopp adding that the player was now entering the peak period of his footballing career, on the defender turning 29 years of age.
“The best football age! Joel, since he was with us, he is incredible. He was incredible before, that’s why we signed him.
“He is an incredible football player, it’s unbelievable how good he is. Yes, he was unlucky with injuries. Before he arrived here he had no injuries, played for Schalke pretty much through four, five or six years.
“Now he’s back and hopefully for a long time. If he is in the best moment of his career, I don’t know, but I was really happy with the moment of his career he was in for the last four years. Super player.”
All eyes will indeed be on Matip when lines up for the Reds on Sunday against Leicester City at Anfield, as the Cameroonian shoulders the huge burden of keeping the likes of Jamie Vardy and James Maddison at bay all by himself, with no Van Dijk or Joe Gomez to help him out this time.
