Jurgen Klopp reveals Joel Matip latest after sitting out Manchester Utd game | OneFootball

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has explained why Joel Matip missed out on the Reds’ Premier League clash with Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.

The former Schalke defender injured his adductor muscle in the draw with West Bromwich Albion back in December and has been missing since, with many hoping he’d be fit for the clash with the Red Devils.

Indeed, hopes grew with him training on Friday and then again on Saturday but, evidently, Jurgen Klopp felt it was not worth risking him after just a couple days of training.

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Speaking to Sky Sports before kick-off and quoted by the Liverpool Echo, Klopp explained why Matip was left out of the squad:

“Joel could take part in some parts of the sessions on Friday but now it is Sunday so that is obviously not enough.

“From tomorrow he will train normally.”

ANFIELD WATCH VERDICT

In truth, this was probably for the best.

Matip only had two days back out on the grass and with him fragile at the best of times you would imagine there was a large threshold of risk over playing him this afternoon.

Jordan Henderson and Fabinho did a fine job at the back in keeping Manchester United at bay and, with the one real chance that they did have Alisson was there to beat Bruno Fernandes’ close-range effort with his feet.

Let’s hope that Matip can now stay injury free for as long as possible.