Liverpool fans will have been hoping for some positive news from training pictures regarding at least one of Joel Matip and Naby Keita ahead of Sunday’s spectacle at Anfield as the Premier League champions welcome table toppers Manchester United.
However, in a season of negatives on the injury front, some of the Reds faithful were left disappointed on Wednesday afternoon when news emerged from Kirkby that training had taken place without the injury-prone duo.
Matip’s return to fitness was of particular interest to Jurgen Klopp and those associated with the Premier League champions as the centre-back crisis sees the German manager with no fit and available senior options.
Having opted to use captain and midfield general Jordan Henderson at the back against Southampton, Klopp has a huge decision to make regarding who partners Fabinho on Sunday.
Whilst the reactions fall short of a witch-hunt towards the injured pair, there is little in the way of sympathy from some Reds on social media. We’ve picked out some of the impassioned responses from Twitter, plus one alternative point of view…
Twitter: @Watch_LFC Both of them are a liability to the club (@mistaeddy7)
Twitter: @LFCTransferRoom But we don’t need to sign a CB this month… (@KhaledKhiat21)
Twitter: @Watch_LFC Those two cannot be here come next season (@19BsK95)
Twitter: @JamesPearceLFC Henderson needs to play midfield. With Thiago & Gini. So probably Rhys Williams but my god, what a… https://t.co/8QArtkcfyR (@danwignall1306)
Twitter: Tbh I think that Matip (maybe Keita too) is being protected from the media as part of Klopp’s mind games (@passingmfer)
Get them off the wage bill
— ian ellis (@ianellis79) January 13, 2021
