Matip Ruled Out For The Rest Of The Season Following Ankle Ligament Injury

Liverpool center back, Joel Matip will miss the rest of the season but Jurgen Klopp is excited to get the chance to work with new recruit Ozan Kaba

Matip sustained the blow, which robs Liverpool of another key player at the back, in their 3-1 win at Tottenham on Thursday.

The Reds were already without long-term absentees Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, with Jordan Henderson and Nathaniel Phillips pressed into service at the heart of defence as Liverpool beat West Ham 3-1 on Sunday.

Moves to address the lack of defensive options were made on Monday’s transfer deadline day, Liverpool signing Ben Davies from Preston North End and Ozan Kabak on loan from Schalke until the end of the season.

On Matip’s injury, manager Jurgen Klopp told Liverpool’s official website: “It was really unlucky because it was a brilliant challenge he made actually, he saved our life in that moment in the Tottenham game when he won the challenge against Son [Heung-min].

“But he injured his ankle and played the game on and now is out for the season, so you can imagine how much he tried to stay on the pitch and tried to help us.

“We will wait for him. He has now the rest of this season, then the summer, then the pre-season to get ready again and he will be ready again.”