In a central defensive partnership alongside last year’s PFA Player’s Player of the Year, Virgil Van Dijk, Cameroonian defender Joel Matip has played a pivotal role in establishing the club’s eight-point lead at the summit of the Premier League table.
After displacing Joe Gomez from the starting XI, who had previously shot to international prominence with seven senior England caps to his name, Matip is playing a crucial role in Liverpool’s success so far.
Some of the club’s fans are, to say the least, highly appreciative of his battling contribution at the heart of his side’s defence after the 28-year-old was named the PFA Player of the Month for September.
One Reds fan has even compared Matip to Manchester United’s Harry Maguire, and some of the club’s fanbase have given an unsurprising verdict on which centre-back is performing better in 2019/20…
I honestly think Joel Matip is a better defender than Harry Maguire.
— Scouser Chris (@ScouserChrisLFC) October 9, 2019
No brainer.
— JR (@cymru_lfc) October 9, 2019
He is better, it’s not even a debate.
— Paul Anderton (@PaulAnderton11) October 9, 2019
Doesn’t really matter what you think, it’s actually a FACT!
— ?? M ADaM (@adamEyeAm) October 9, 2019
When was that even a question?
— FantasticFirmino9 (@MPBFirmino9) October 9, 2019
He absolutely is
— P trick (@LFCPatrick91) October 9, 2019
The centre-back has also been attracted praise after Goal asked their readers to name a dream back-four, and given the Liverpool defender’s impressive recent performances, it’s far from surprising to see some fans of the Reds making their case for the inclusion of Klopp’s back-four.
Name your dream back four ?
RB: _____
CB: _____
CB: _____
LB: _____
— Goal (@goal) October 11, 2019
TAA
Matip
Van Dijk
Robertson— . (@SKh1997) October 11, 2019
Trent, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson #LFC #YNWA
— (@Emma_Jayc) October 11, 2019
Robertson
Van Dijk
Matip
Alexander-Arnold— Adam Petruccione (@AdamPetruccione) October 11, 2019
Trent VVD Matip Robertson
— Jacob Elkins (@JacobBElkins) October 11, 2019
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Joel Matip
Virgil van Dijk
Andrew Robertson— M. Dewa Baskoro (@devvasko) October 11, 2019