Joel Matip return won’t force Rhys Williams out this month

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Joel Matip is back in training but his return shouldn’t force Rhys Williams out of sight. The 19-year-old will surely get more chances in defence.

It appears Joel Matip is back already but what does that mean for Rhys Williams?

The 19-year-old stepped in wonderfully on Wednesday, after all. With Matip out, it was up to Williams to help Fabinho keep Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min at bay.

He manged it – just – in what was a heroic display. This is a player who was at Kidderminster Harriers in the National League last season but he helped the Reds to a win against title contenders.

Williams is a player we want to see more of, then. He’s a teenager who already looks Premier League-ready, while his natural skillset (Williams is 6ft 3in but still very mobile) gives him huge room to grow.

But Matip’s return runs the risk of limiting how often Williams plays. We still expect to see the teenager this month, however.

One in, one out

December ends with a busy period. Liverpool face Crystal Palace at Saturday lunchtime but do get over a week’s break afterwards.

If Matip is fit, we expect him to face Palace without issue.

But after the game against West Brom on December 27th, Liverpool face Newcastle United on the 30th. That quick turnaround surely means Matip misses one.

Especially as Liverpool will definitely want him up against Southampton on January 4th. That looks like the biggest game before Liverpool get a nice break after the FA Cup 3rd Round.

Pencil Matip in for that one, then.

If Liverpool want the Cameroonian fit for it, though, they can’t risk him too often over the next two weeks. We imagine at least one game will see Williams get another shot.

Perhaps that comes against Palace but Jurgen Klopp will surely need to pick between the West Brom and Newcastle games, too. To be safe, Matip should only play one.

The fixtures are such that we’d still expect Liverpool to win with Williams – especially after beating Spurs.

So Matip’s return might force Williams out of the team immediately. But we still expect to see the 19-year-old before the year ticks over.