Joel Matip becomes the latest injury concern going into the Crystal Palace game
Joel Matip reportedly skipped training on Friday due to "a groin problem," adding to the Reds' growing injury list.
Many of Liverpool's senior players are still out injured, despite the impending returns of Naby Keita and Kostas Tsimikas, who Jurgen Klopp claims are both in contention to play against Crystal Palace.
The list of absent players still includes Caoimhin Kelleher, Ibrahima Konate, Calvin Ramsay, Thiago, Curtis Jones, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Kaide Gordon, and Diogo Jota, and now there is word of a potential new injury concern.
Joel Matip, the center defender who started both the Premier League debut against Fulham and the Community Shield victory over Man City, is said to have missed training on Friday due to "a minor injury."
Sam Wallace of the Telegraph reports that Matip skipped the practice "in the hope he might perhaps be ready" for Monday's Premier League home opener for Liverpool.
According to a similar account published by The Echo, the former international for Cameroon was taken out of training "as a precaution."
In the event that Konate is absent, Joe Gomez would very definitely replace Virgil van Dijk in the lineup.
The futures of players like Nat Phillips and Sepp van den Berg, who were both anticipated to leave this summer on either permanent or loan deals, are also being impacted by Liverpool's defensive ailments.
The injury to Konate, according to Klopp last week, would "probably" necessitate Phillips taking over for Konate despite interest from the likes of Bournemouth and Fulham.
Van den Berg, who was a substitute against Fulham, is reportedly drawing interest from a number of Championship clubs, with Blackburn reportedly leading the pack.
However, according to sources on Friday, that transfer may be put on hold because of Liverpool's injury issues, which would relate to a potential Matip issue.
The 2021/22 season was arguably Matip's best at Anfield to date after a string of injuries in the early years of his Liverpool career. Matip was able to stay healthy for the majority of the season.
This season, Klopp will be hoping that holds true, and fortunately, his absence from the practice on Friday was only a precaution.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0