OPINION
Joel Matip probably wouldn’t have anticipated being given such a starring role in Liverpool’s title challenge this season.
The Cameroonian was well down the pecking order with regards to centre back choices at the start of the campaign, and his Anfield career had taken on the laboured apathy of a player destined for the scrapheap.
But then Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren got injured in quick succession, and out of nowhere, an opportunity arose.
The 27-year-old was drafted in to cover the gaping chasm at the heart of Liverpool’s defence, and to his credit, did a decent job.
Shaky performances have followed, as they often do with Matip, but for the most part, he and Virgil van Dijk have formed a steady partnership at the back.
But now, with Lovren back in action for Croatia this week, and with Gomez getting fitter by the day, Jurgen Klopp could be left with a big decision to make prior to his run in.
Does he stick with the status quo and keep Matip in the side, or does he take a gamble on one of his newly returning talents?
Gomez, despite his improvements, is still probably a little way off full fitness, but there is a direct choice to be made between Lovren and Matip.
Neither have exactly covered themselves in glory throughout their Liverpool careers, but John Aldridge makes an astute point on who should get the nod.
Speaking to the Echo, he said: “At the end of the day, Klopp needs everyone fit and raring to go in the final few weeks of the season.
“At the moment though, Joel Matip has got the shirt and he deserves to have it after a great few weeks.
“With the run-in, they are going to have more games if they get past Porto in the Champions League. There will be more matches to play and Lovren will come back fresh.
“So it’s a positive to have him back, but the place alongside Virgil van Dijk isn’t his at the moment.”
Matip may not be the most glamorous choice, but he hasn’t done anything wrong, and how can Klopp justifiably displace him for no apparent reason?
The shirt is his to lose at the moment, and until he makes a slip up, there is no reason why the Cameroonian shouldn’t continue to get the nod over his teammates.
Aldridge is bang on the money about the crunch decision facing Klopp.
