Georginio Wijnaldum has delivered a two-word message to Liverpool defender Joel Matip after he picked up the PFA Player of the Month award for September.
The Cameroon international picked up the award after playing a pivotal part in the Reds maintaining their perfect start to the Premier League season under Jurgen Klopp.
Wijnaldum took to his personal Twitter account to heap praise on Matip, saying the award was “well deserved” for the Liverpool enforcer.
The 28-year-old has been a mainstay for the Reds but missed the recent 2-1 victory over Leicester City at Anfield after picking up an injury against Sheffield United.
Well deserved ????
— Gini Wijnaldum (@GWijnaldum) October 7, 2019
OPINION
Wijnaldum is spot on with his verdict of his teammate, who has been phenomenal alongside Virgil van Dijk. Not many of Liverpool’s players get praised for their defensive efforts over the Dutchman, and Matip has done just that and excelled over the past couple of seasons. This recognition is the least Matip deserves, and the Cameroon enforcer will be delighted. The 28-year-old has averaged 1.8 tackles and 1.7 interceptions per game so far according to WhoScored and has continued to excel. More impressively, Matip has averaged 5.2 clearances in each outing and has helped transform the Reds’ defence with van Dijk, who has taken more of the plaudits. The fact that one of his teammates has taken to social media to heap praise on him only highlights how highly he is thought of in Merseyside, and that his impact is massive on the Reds’ side. Klopp will be delighted with the impact Matip has made, and he has no doubt cemented his place in the heart of the defence at Anfield for the foreseeable future, even after he returns from injury in the coming weeks.
