- Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp provides fitness update on Joel Matip
- Reds defender will miss Champions League game with Spartak Moscow
- However, could return before end of the month to provide Liverpool with boost
- READ MORE: Video: Liverpool fans have brilliant Mohamed Salah chant for fan-favourite
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has provided an update on the fitness of defender Joel Matip after he missed the win over Brighton through injury.
The 26-year-old has made 19 appearances in all competitions so far this season, but has picked up knocks along the way to cast doubt over his fitness.
A muscle injury sidelined him at the weekend, but Liverpool didn’t miss him too much as they secured an impressive 5-1 win over Brighton.
The Reds don’t boast a great defensive record so far this season, conceding 19 goals in 15 games, the joint-worst of the top seven sides in the Premier League table.
However, to their credit, they’ve certainly improved in that area in recent weeks, conceding just three goals in their last six league outings.
While they’re arguably a better side with Matip in it, Klopp has confirmed that he will miss the Champions League encounter with Spartak Moscow in midweek, but has allayed fears that he will miss the rest of this month.
Given the packed fixture schedule, that will surely be a major relief to him, as he’ll be desperate to have as close to a fully-fit squad at his disposal as possible in order to continue to compete on various fronts.
As noted by freelance injury analyst Ben Dinnery below, Klopp is quietly confident that his centre-half will return before the end of the month, with a stand-out clash with Arsenal on December 22 to look forward to in particular.
Liverpool have the matter of the Merseyside derby against Everton this weekend, and so while Matip won’t feature on Wednesday night, it remains to be seen whether or not he’s passed fit for the meeting with the Toffees at Anfield on Sunday.
Joel Matip will miss the UCL tie with Spartak but Klopp has played down fears the centre-back won’t be back until 2018: “He has hurt his muscle. I don’t know how long exactly. A month? No, I don’t think so. We have to wait. It’s possible that it will be shorter.” #LFC
— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) December 4, 2017