Just as Liverpool‘s injury crisis showed no sign of relenting, positive news emerged today about the fitness of Joel Matip.
The Athletic’s James Pearce told The Red Agenda podcast that the Cameroonian “should be back…the hope is that he will be fit for the Man United game which is looming large on the horizon”.
The 29-year-old has been sidelined with a groin issue which forced him off in the 1-1 draw with West Brom at Anfield just after Christmas, an injury which left Jurgen Klopp with no fit and available senior central defenders.
However, with the defending champions now tied on points at the top of the table alongside bitter foes Manchester United, Klopp may have one central defender back in contention for the visit of their nearest challengers to Anfield on 17 January.
You may expect Liverpool fans to be bullish over the potential timely return as Matip’s prognosis got a whole lot brighter, but the injury-prone defender’s tendency to make short-lived returns means that some Reds fans aren’t overly optimistic over the Cameroonian’s long-term availability.
Here’s a pick of the reactions as Kopites both welcome the news and implore Matip to stay fit…
Twitter: @thisisanfield Wouldn’t bank on it
(@Azzadabber)
Twitter: @thisisanfield Massive if he is. (@TheFNundy)
Twitter: @thisisanfield Hopefully. We need him to play alongside Fabinho. (@devshendy)
Twitter: @thisisanfield And then unfit again for the Burnley game 4 days later… (@tkell82)
Twitter: @thisisanfield Dont hold your breath he will probably pull a hamstring putting on his socks (@Andrew280964)
Twitter: I beg he is man, cant have henderson at the back again need him in the midfield https://t.co/xsM0LnaPFW (@JBLWrestlinGod)
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