Virgil van Dijk has suggested that Joel Matip could return from injury in time to play for Liverpool in their clash against Leicester at Anfield on Saturday.
Matip was forced to sit out of Wednesday night’s 4-3 win against Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League due to a knock he picked up in the 1-0 win at Sheffield United last week.
Joe Gomez stepped in for the injured Cameroon international against Salzburg but could not help the Reds from conceding three goals, the most goals they have leaked in a game since losing to Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final first leg last season.
Although van Dijk was happy to partner Gomez on Wednesday, he still seems hopeful that Matip will return to fill fitness either in time to play against Leicester this weekend or against Manchester United in a couple of weeks after the upcoming international break is over.
“It was good to be back alongside Joe,” Van Dijk told The Athletic. “It had been a while since we played together so it’s bound to take some time again. We’re lucky to have four very good centre-backs here. Dejan (Lovren) is also a good option and Joel should be back after the internationals, if not before.”
OPINION
Liverpool fans will probably be praying that Matip is fit to return on Saturday because Jurgen Klopp’s side should not be conceding three goals to a team like Red Bull Salzburg. Although they are a good team in Austria and hammered Genk 6-2 last month, they still shouldn’t be able to turn up to Anfield on a European night and score three goals. Liverpool’s defence has been a lot leakier this season that it was last season. By this stage last season in the Premier League, the Reds had conceded just three goals and. Compared to this season, Klopp’s defence has conceded five in the league. Although it’s a small difference, it is still enough to show that the Reds are conceding more and while that could be down the Alisson Becker’s injury, it could also be down to the defence itself. Van Dijk is a world-class centre-back and Matip has been his best partner so far this term. If Matip is fit enough to play against Leicester then sorry Gomez, the Cameroonian needs to start.
