Topic: Joël Matip (Job Joël André Matip)

[disgraced cake]

Williams should definitely come in. After the first game against Atalanta you certainly wouldn't be worrying about him in there. Who to start alongside him is the question. I'd go Fabinho, because despite his injury troubles Matip has had it much worse. Shame we don't have Phillips in the squad because he could play at least 2 of the last 3 in Europe.

[thaddeus]

There's nothing explicitly stopping him from playing every 3 days that I've ever seen mentioned.  He certainly struggles with injury but I've never seen it linked to the volume of games (beyond the normal correlation of more games meaning more opportunity for injury) or needing a particularly long recovery time between games.

While he remains fit I'd expect him to play every important game for us.

[dudleyred]

Oh yeah Phillips can't play can he. I think we could see 45 mins each for fabinho and Matip?

Is a great shout on the 45 mins each and what we've done with the midfielders before

[Too early for flapjacks?]

Think it will be Rhys Williams and Matip against Atalanta on Wednesday and Nat Phillips and Fabinho on Saturday against Brighton. Can't see either Matip or Fabinho playing 3 games in 7 days.

[JC the Messiah]

Billy is not registered for CL is my understanding

You sure? I know Phillips isn't, but thought Billy was, and it was just his injuries that kept him away from the squad?

Actually, this:
"List ‘B’ is an unlimited number of players under 21 with at least two years’ training at Anfield. The deadline for registering them is midnight before any group game."

[LFCobsessive]

Great defender, always more comfortable seeing his name on the team sheet. Huge pity about the time out of the game he spends with his various injuries. Gave a top class performance after having to come back into a makeshift team and from his own fitness and injury stuff. Him and Fab work very well together. I think Fab has been exceptional at CB but of course then we lose the option of having him in the midfield and at times we are really going to want to have him there.
  Maybe some games could work like it did when Neco came on and Milner moved to midfield. A CB could come on in the CL games or Prem games if midfield is getting overrun and Fab can move to Midfield during the game.
  Stay fit all season kidda, about time we all got to see you play for many games. Yeah always been a big fan of Matip but to me it was a situation were I thought we need to buy a CB or two even though we have him because of the injury problems.

[Crosby Nick]

Oh yeah Phillips can't play can he. I think we could see 45 mins each for fabinho and Matip?

We do have the ‘luxury’ of 5 subs so I guess that’s possible. And to be fair, I’d want at least one senior player in there against Atalanta or Ajax (if we haven’t qualified) so maybe a half each is the way to go.

Tough call regardless but would be nice to get qualification wrapped up and then it doesn’t matter who we play.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Matip is def. starting, he's in today's presser with Klopp

[simbo]

You sure? I know Phillips isn't, but thought Billy was, and it was just his injuries that kept him away from the squad?

Actually, this:
"List ‘B’ is an unlimited number of players under 21 with at least two years’ training at Anfield. The deadline for registering them is midnight before any group game."

https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/clubs/7889--liverpool/squad/

[Welshred]

James Pearce
@JamesPearceLFC
·
1m
Welcome sight of Joel Matip training at Kirkby. Defender set to come back into the side to face Ajax after being rested against Brighton #LFC

Just for those who may still be worried about him not being involved against Brighton

[JC the Messiah]

Matip was my MotM today. Majestic giraffe.

[farawayred]

Him and Fabino were both fantastic.

[Gods_Left_Boot]

I was fucking terrified when he had to sprint back at full pace around 85 minutes. Jokes aside, he was faultless. Absolutely top class defender.

[redgriffin73]

And back he goes into his bubble wrap suit for a few days.

[DelTrotter]

We have the four best centre backs on the planet. Great player, great celebration.

[farawayred]

Another imperious performance along with Fab. And what a conviction for that goal...

[deFacto please, you bastards]

He's world class in my eyes, and underrated in the game.

[RedSince86]

Wrap him in cotton wool now for the Fulham game.

[Welshred]

Wrap him in cotton wool now for the Fulham game.

He shouldn't be anywhere near that plane to go away midweek should he?

[Dim Glas]

He shouldn't be anywhere near that plane to go away midweek should he?

Him, Robbo and Gini are the 3 who should not be allowed out of the house for a few days.

And the likes of Mo, Mane, Bobby, Trent, Hendo and Fab shouldn’t be going there either.

[Roger Federer]

Honestly think Matip-Fabinho is better than any first choice centre back pair in the league (not counting Van Dijk and Gomez). I don’t think I’d take any player currently ahead of our two brilliant defenders.

[RedForeverTT]

Has scored more goals than Joelinton.

[farawayred]

Has scored more goals than Joelinton.

So, what you are saying is that Matip>inton?

[Fromola]

He shouldn't be anywhere near that plane to go away midweek should he?

No. Question is whether he's risked for Fulham before Spurs or we play Phillips.

[Fromola]

Honestly think Matip-Fabinho is better than any first choice centre back pair in the league (not counting Van Dijk and Gomez). I don’t think I’d take any player currently ahead of our two brilliant defenders.

Matip is the closest thing to Van Dijk.

[Welshred]

No. Question is whether he's risked for Fulham before Spurs or we play Phillips.

That's actually a pretty good point. Does it make more sense to play him midweek and then miss Fulham to give him a full week to recover before Spurs? Phillips should be fine against Fulham.

[Dim Glas]

I love watching Big Joel Matip as a footballer, because he’s just really really good at it, but equally as much I love watching his reactions during a game   They are often priceless. The one tonight when that Wolves player made a meal of things was up there with his best.

[Fromola]

That's actually a pretty good point. Does it make more sense to play him midweek and then miss Fulham to give him a full week to recover before Spurs? Phillips should be fine against Fulham.

I wouldn't play him midweek either way. We've got 3 games in 6 days starting with Fulham, Spurs and then the Palace early kick off. You wouldn't want Matip (or many others) starting all 3. Centre halves tend to play 90 minutes as well and only 3 subs. Palace a tougher game than Fulham on paper.

For example, Fulham - Phillips and Fabinho. Spurs - Matip and Fabinho. Palace - Phillips and Matip (fitness permitting).

[Welshred]

Yeah I can agree with that, those 3 games make it tough to pick a team. I think we'll see a pretty big rotation over the next week, our only saving grace is that we have 8 days between Palace and West Brom which will definitely help

[Kashinoda]

[Fromola]

Yeah I can agree with that, those 3 games make it tough to pick a team. I think we'll see a pretty big rotation over the next week, our only saving grace is that we have 8 days between Palace and West Brom which will definitely help

The key is having Matip and Fabinho against Spurs with the form their forwards are in (and Alisson, Trent, Robbo, Hendo and Gini available).

We can work around the Spurs game for Fulham and Palace a bit like we did last December either side of the Salzburg game. I think it was Bournemouth away we had a scratch side out and still won.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Honestly think Matip-Fabinho is better than any first choice centre back pair in the league (not counting Van Dijk and Gomez). I don’t think I’d take any player currently ahead of our two brilliant defenders.

I think Matip and Van Dijk is the best partnership. In fact I think Matip would be first choice if he weren't injured. Not a slight on Gomez, but Matip is that good.

[Doc Red]

I think Matip and Van Dijk is the best partnership. In fact I think Matip would be first choice if he weren't injured. Not a slight on Gomez, but Matip is that good.

Agreed.

[smutchin]

In fact I think Matip would be first choice if he weren't injured. Not a slight on Gomez, but Matip is that good.

Gomez at his best just shades it for me, but he's inconsistent. Matip is far superior to Gomez in the air, but Gomez is better with the ball at his feet.

But you're right - Matip is a far better defender than he often gets credit for. Maybe because we picked him up for free rather than paying £75m for him? Anyway, I have to admit I have been guilty of underappreciating him in the past.

He has been exceptional lately. His partnership with Fabinho is a joy to watch. No way would I drop Matip for anyone at the moment - as long as he can stay fit!

[number 168]

Gomez at his best just shades it for me, but he's inconsistent. Matip is far superior to Gomez in the air, but Gomez is better with the ball at his feet.

But you're right - Matip is a far better defender than he often gets credit for. Maybe because we picked him up for free rather than paying £75m for him? Anyway, I have to admit I have been guilty of underappreciating him in the past.

He has been exceptional lately. His partnership with Fabinho is a joy to watch. No way would I drop Matip for anyone at the moment - as long as he can stay fit!

Gomez is a good centre back but to say he's better with the ball that Joel is not something I see. Gomez gives the ball away so often and is prone to play players into trouble with slack passes. Joel s much more deliberate with his distribution.

[BarryCrocker]

Superb performance.

Anybody know his contract status?

[GreatEx]

Gomez is a good centre back but to say he's better with the ball that Joel is not something I see. Gomez gives the ball away so often and is prone to play players into trouble with slack passes. Joel s much more deliberate with his distribution.

Agreed. For me, Matip shades it in most areas except recovery speed (with a comfortable margin in aerial ability and goal threat). Having said that, most of our clean sheet streaks seem to come with Joe+VVD. so I might be missing something.

[Jono69]

Superb performance.

Anybody know his contract status?

Sure he signed a new one last year until 2024

[Roger Federer]

I think Matip and Van Dijk is the best partnership. In fact I think Matip would be first choice if he weren't injured. Not a slight on Gomez, but Matip is that good.

I've previously said that Gomez with his pace takes our already excellent defence to an even higher level, but right now I'm not sure about who I prefer. Both are superb at their best, but I think Matip is probably better suited to lead the defence, so if I had to chose one when Van Dijk is unavailable it would probably be Matip. Both are excellent at their best though, just a shame niether has any luck with injuries.

It's also fantastic how well Fabinho's adapted to playing in defence. You'd think he'd played there all his life, his reading of the game is outstanding. He's not very similar in terms of style, but it's like having Desially in our side, world class in both defensive midfield and at centre back.

[exiledinyorkshire]

I love watching Big Joel Matip as a footballer, because he’s just really really good at it, but equally as much I love watching his reactions during a game   They are often priceless. The one tonight when that Wolves player made a meal of things was up there with his best.

Ha ha - yes and if you imagine his high speaking voice it always cracks me up- he is comedy gold!