OPINION
It is simplistic to say that Southampton’s opening goal was solely Joel Matip’s fault. Yes the Liverpool centre-back should have done better to clear the danger before Shane Long got the ball, but Virgil van Dijk and Andrew Robertson should have also done a lot better to stop the Saints forward from scoring a shock opener in the first-half at St Mary’s. Matip has done a solid job for most of Liverpool’s season. Joe Gomez has been injured with a broken leg, and during the time that he has been out, the former Schalke man has been quite steady alongside van Dijk in the back-four. The 27-year-old has played well and to suggest that he needs to be sold is a massive over-reaction by one Liverpool supporter here. It is not a shock to see so many Reds fans tearing into Matip after Long scored, but the blame needs to be shared and not just focused on him.
Live4Liverpool has rounded up some of the best tweets below:
https://twitter.com/PrimeWij/status/1114244492729753601
https://twitter.com/sackfsg/status/1114244175430651904
Not closing down the wings and Matip wandering out of position like a clown. Not the stuff of champions – pull your socks up Liverpool!
— Senor Joe (@GreatException) April 5, 2019
https://twitter.com/Mrhappy1998/status/1114244139682553856
https://twitter.com/Mr_Marty/status/1114244064084414471
Matip seems all over the place. Keita easily getting bullied
— Anfield Throne (@AnfieldThrone) April 5, 2019
Matip clearly out of position #LFC
— Vignesh Sridhar (@svignesh8714) April 5, 2019
Ffs not a great start that, no one picked him up. Wijnaldum and matip sleeping
— Glenn ? (@GlennLFC08) April 5, 2019
