Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders says Joel Matip will not be ready to play before the World Cup break.
Sitting in for Jurgen Klopp in the pre-Derby press conference via Liverpool FC on YouTube, Lijnders gave an injury update on several players.
“Naby will be difficult, he’s still training individually. Let’s see for Southampton. Millie will definitely be ready for Southampton but this game [against Derby] comes too early for tomorrow,” said the assistant manager.
“Then we have of course Joel, who is getting closer to team training but will not make Southampton probably. The longer injuries, Luis Diaz is running for the first time on Thursday.”
Matip hasn’t played since the defeat to Arsenal at the start of October. With Southampton the final game before the six-week break, we won’t see the Cameroonian for a little while.
Matip still missing, time for a replacement?
This is a disappointment for Matip after an excellent season last time out. Posting 43 appearances in all competitions during 2021/22, it was his best ever return in a Liverpool shirt.
After playing just 25 times in the previous two season combined, there was hope that the 31-year-old had turned a corner with respect to his injuries.
But perhaps that was a false dawn, after all. After picking up an injury in the opening day draw to Fulham, Matip has only played seven more times since then.
With Ibrahima Konate also missing for a period of time, Liverpool have had to rely on Joe Gomez.
While Gomez has had his moments, he has also shown why he was relegated to fourth choice in the position last season.
The 25-year-old’s form could be why suggestions that Liverpool will look for defensive reinforcements in the summer have resurfaced.
Unless the £140k-a-week Matip can go on to have no further injury issues this season, it may be a sign that he finally needs replacing, too.
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