Matip back in full training to give Klopp a much-needed boost

Liverpool centre back Joel Matip is back in full training to give Jurgen Klopp a much-needed boost ahead of Burnley clash… but Diogo Jota is ‘still a few weeks away’ from comeback 

  • Jurgen Klopp has confirmed Joel Matip has returned to full training
  • The defender could return to face Burnley at Anfield on Thursday night 
  • The centre back has missed Liverpool’s last three games through injury 
  • The Reds have failed to win since the 29-year-old was sidelined 

Jurgen Klopp has confirmed Joel Matip has returned to full training and is contention to play against Burnley on Thursday. 

The defender has missed Liverpool’s last three games with an adductor injury he picked up against West Brom in December. 

The Reds have failed to win since Matip was sidelined with draws against Newcastle and Manchester United and a 1-0 defeat at Southampton. 


Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Joel Matip has returned to full training after his injury

Matip returned to training at the end of last week but was not fit enough to play against United on Sunday. 

Klopp provided an update on the 29-year-old as well as the fitness of Diogo Jota, who has also been sidelined by injury.   

He said: ‘Joel is in full training and now we have to make a decision. Yesterday he trained completely normal. 

The Liverpool boss also said that Diogo Jota is still a few weeks away from returning

‘Diogo is still a few weeks away. He needs time. We will all be happy in the near future when he’s back again.’

Klopp has opted to play two midfielders at centre back for the Reds’ last two games, rather than turning to youngsters Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams.

Jordan Henderson played alongside Fabinho, who has the majority of this season’s games in the centre of defence due to the injuries to Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez. 

When asked about his decision to play Henderson over one of his reserve defenders, Klopp added: ‘If I thought it was better to play someone in midfield rather than at centre back  then I would do it. 

Jordan Henderson has played the last two games at centre back alongside Fabinho

‘I thought for that game it would work better that way around.’

Williams played against Tottenham in December when Matip was sidelined by a different injury while Phillips played in the 0-0 draw at Newcastle.

The Reds face Burnley at Anfield on Thursday having not scored in their last three outings. Sean Dyche’s side have only conceded one more goal than Liverpool this season but are the lowest scorers in the top flight with just nine goals.




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