Injury expert Ben Dinnery has shared an update on the fitness of Joel Matip ahead of the weekend.
The Liverpool defender was substituted in the second half of last week’s Premier League outing with a suspected calf problem (The Athletic).
It ruled him out of Wednesday night’s trip to Ibrox to take on Rangers where Ibrahima Konate came in alongside Virgil van Dijk for the 7-1 thrashing.
Matip had started each of the club’s four previous games prior to his injury, but it seems as if he will be out until the end of October at least.
Speaking on the Premier FPL Injuries YouTube channel, Dinnery discussed the 31-year-old’s absence.
He said: “We know that that’s a muscle problem. He has been blighted by those in recent times. That’s probably going to keep him out for around about three weeks.”
TIF Thoughts on Matip and Liverpool…
Should Joel Matip regain his place in the team when he returns from injury?
Yes
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Matip had steadied the ship somewhat with his return to action, and while his ‘quality’ moving forward – as Van Dijk put it – will be missed, the return to action of Konate is a silver lining.
The Frenchman made his first appearance of the season against Arsenal on Sunday, and having been part of Jurgen Klopp’s go-to tandem at the heart of defence last term, he should be equal to the task.
However, with Trent Alexander-Arnold also in the treatment room and Joe Gomez likely to cover on the right, it does leave the Reds’ options at the back completely stretched in the midst of a stacked schedule, so this will be a blow for the team.