Joel Matip might have played his last game for Liverpool after it was confirmed the defender ruptured his ACL in the Reds’ 4-3 victory over Fulham on Sunday.
The Cameroonian was forced off in the 69th minute against the Cottagers after injuring himself when clearing the ball. Jurgen Klopp admitted at the time that he was fearing the worst, with scan results confirming on Wednesday that that defender has suffered a serious knee injury.
Expected to be out until at least the end of the season as a result, the 32-year-old could well have played his last game for the club with his current contract due to expire next summer. Matip had been tipped to move on on a free transfer, though his impress form so far this campaign had made such a scenario less of a foregone conclusion.
Ibrahima Konate came on at centre-back in the former Schalke man’s place against Fulham before starting alongside Virgil van Dijk in the 2-0 victory over Sheffield United on Wednesday. Elsewhere, Joe Gomez and Jarell Qunasah make up Klopp’s senior options at centre-back, though Wataru Endo has experience playing at centre-back while Nat Phillips is currently scheduled to return from a half-season loan stint at Celtic in January.
Klopp had admitted last May that he wanted to sign a new centre-back in the summer, only for Liverpool to end up prioritising their £150m midfield revamp after unexpectedly losing both Fabinho and Jordan Henderson to Saudi Arabia. While Quansah’s eye-catching breakthrough campaign at Anfield has previously ensured they haven’t been caught short at centre-back, Matip’s injury could change things going forward – especially considering both Konate and Gomez have been prone to injury in the past.
So with the January transfer window looming at the end of the month, our writers debate whether Klopp should look to sign a new centre-back next month.
‘Liverpool have to learn their lesson from previous mistakes’
Theo Squires: If Liverpool aren’t still haunted by their centre-back shortage in 2020/21, then they have far too short memories. Entering the campaign as Premier League champions, failing to replace Dejan Lovren while losing Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, and Joe Gomez to season-ending injuries undermined their title-defence before it even begun.
The Reds responded by playing midfielders out of position before bringing in emergency reinforcements in January in Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies. Neither worked out, with it only when academy graduates Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams were given the nod that Liverpool managed to finish on a high. Having enjoyed first half of the season, Jurgen Klopp can’t afford a repeat of that year’s shortcomings.
A new centre-back has been on the club’s radar for a while. Just because Jarell Quansah has impressed this season, they cannot forget that. Even before injury, they would have needed a long-term replacement for Van Dijk and Matip sooner rather than later.
Considering Konate and Gomez’s own historical fragile record when it comes to injuries and availability, it would be naive to expect the pair to both avoid injury for the rest of the campaign now. Besides, absences elsewhere have already resulted in the latter playing all across the back four already this season to slim the available options further.
Quansah has been a massive success this season, but Liverpool would be foolish not to strengthen in January if the right target is available. The preferred target in the summer, a young left-sided centre-back who can also play left-back, would not block his pathway.
If they leave themselves short, they are gambling with their hope of silverware in 2024. Historically, this has never paid off as we saw both in 2020/21 and again last season when not adding to their midfield. This time they have to learn their lesson from previous mistakes. They have to twist rather than cautiously stick with what they have in hope their injuries woes don’t get any worse.
Matip was expected to move on at the end of his contract, partly because of his age and partly because of his injury record. While he might have recovered top form this season and this is his first serious injury since 2021, sentimentality isn’t enough to hand him a new contract. Especially with it unclear when he will be fit to return after a long-term lay-off and if he’ll be able to rediscover previous heights.
He has been an incredible servant, winning every trophy there is to win at Anfield. And while Liverpool will help him in every way possible to recover and get back from this ACL injury, this is an unfortunate ending to what has been a great Reds career.
Liverpool wanted a long-term replacement for Matip in the summer and while that failed to materialise, that stance has to still be the case come January to complement their now depleted options.
