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Joel Matip was forced to retire due to injury during the second half of Liverpool’s 1-1 draw against West Brom, with selection problems in the defense of manager Jurgen Klopp.
The center-back, who started alongside Fabinho against the Baggies, fell clutching his groin in the 58th minute at Anfield on Sunday and was replaced by Rhys Williams.
Klopp’s team expands with Williams, Nathanial Phillips and Sepp van den Berg, now the only recognized central defenders available to him for selection.
Joel Matip received treatment and was substituted after injuring his groin against West Brom
Senior center-backs Virgil van Dijk (ACL) and Joe Gomez (tendon) are out with long-term knee injuries.
On Matip being forced to leave the field during the second half, Klopp said in his post-match press conference: “Joel told me he felt something in his kidnapper and that’s obviously not too good.
3:03
Jurgen Klopp reflects on Liverpool’s draw with West Brom and says he didn’t expect them to play ‘6-4 or whatever’ in terms of their formation
“I’m not sure how serious it is now, but it was serious enough that I had to leave the field. The rest of the information I will receive tomorrow.”
“This is not the first time a central midfielder has been injured, so of course it is not good, especially now that he was in very good shape again.
“But we can’t change that and we have to accept it and move on.”
1:23
Jurgen Klopp says his players were ‘angry’ after losing points at home to West Brom and also gave an update on defender Joel Matip’s injury.
Liverpool led Sadio Mane’s goal in the first half, but Semi Ajayi’s draw with eight minutes remaining ensured that Sam Allardyce’s men left Anfield with a point.
The Reds have a three-point lead over Everton at the top of the Premier League after the draw over Allardyce’s team
3:43
Jamie Carragher claims Liverpool’s need for a new center-back in the January transfer window was obvious in the 1-1 draw with West Brom in the Premier League when Joel Matip was injured again.
Carra: Liverpool must sign a defender in January
Sky sports Liverpool expert and former defender Jamie Carragher is convinced the club must sign a center-back in next month’s transfer window to bolster its options at the rear for the second half of the season.
“It is a huge concern, but it is not a new concern,” Carragher said. Sky sports after Liverpool’s draw with West Brom.
“That’s why it’s paramount that Liverpool sign someone in January. I said it as soon as Virgil van Dijk got injured. Fabinho looks like a first-class center-back, but Matip is too injury-prone. His body just can.” rigors of playing in the Premier League week after week.
“I still believe that Liverpool are the best team in the league even without Van Dijk. The only way they don’t win it is if they have problems at center, where Rhys Williams or Nat Phillips have to play for a long period. It’s not It is a position for young players, sometimes they will make mistakes because they are young and they are learning.
“Liverpool need someone there to make sure they don’t end up with two guys playing there for five or six weeks if, for example, Fabinho gets injured.
“They have to do something in January.”
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