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Jack Kenmare
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp gave the impression that the season is “not long enough” for one of his players to return from injury.
The Reds, who are in first place in the Premier League with 67 points lately, were without several key players in key periods of the 2023/24 campaign.
Andy Robertson has been out for more than 100 days following shoulder surgery, while Stefan Bajcetic, Ibrahima Konate and Trent Alexander-Arnold, among others, have missed part of the season due to injuries.
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Another one who is still missed is Joel Matip. The 32-year-old ruptured his ACL in a dramatic 4-3 win over Fulham on December 3.
The German-born defender, who underwent successful surgery, is expected to miss the remainder of the 2023/24 season, according to Liverpool’s official website.
Matip, who had enjoyed a productive first-team career alongside Virgil van Dijk in the past, is ultimately in the final year of his contract at Anfield.
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And speaking of their Premier League clash against Sheffield United on Thursday, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp warned that Matip’s season is almost over.
“Joel runs. He hates it, but he has to run again,” she said. “He doesn’t feel pain anymore, but everything takes time. I don’t think the season will be long enough for him.
Several days after Matip suffered a serious injury against Fulham, Klopp asked about their defensive scenario as they prepared for an action-packed schedule, and it’s fair to say he stirred at the question.
You can check that out below.
At the start of the season, Matip revealed his preference for staying at Liverpool.
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“Here in Liverpool, with those surely optimal conditions, you can’t just leave,” he told Sky Germany.
“I also feel incredibly comfortable here in my personal life. I think it’s a smart idea not to constantly replace clubs. But everyone has to do it for themselves. Anyway, I find consistency useful.
He added: “If in the end there were only [Schalke and Liverpool] left, I would be perfectly happy. But in football you never know for sure.
Lately, he has not been in a position to renew the defender’s contract.
Topics: Liverpool, Premier League, Liverpool news and rumours, Jurgen Klopp
Senior journalist at SPORTbible with a penchant for long-form journalism. Almost 10 years of online and printing experience.
@jackkenmare_
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