Topic: Joël Matip (Job Joël André Matip)

[kavah]

he was determined to get that second goal today   

[disgraced cake]

One of the players of the season Matip has been. There couldn't have been many better.

[newterp]

Starts in Madrid - at least in my opinion.

[MonsLibpool]

Starts in Madrid - at least in my opinion.

I agree. It's important to be able to play it out against Madrid.

[him_15]

He should start in the CL final.

[rojo para la vida]

The back four is a calmer place with Joel in it. That is not to be disrespectful to Konate who has always looked the real deal, has improved considerably this season and looks like he could be with us for a decade but Joel is in the form of his life and those dribbling runs bring an extra dimension to our game.
He deserves to be in the first Xl next Saturday.

[Persephone]

Starts in Madrid - at least in my opinion.

Absolutely. Konate as good as he is, can lose his head like he did yesterday. Matip and Virgil are our best pairing and I hope it is the starting pair on Saturday.

[Bucko - Dubai]

I expect Konate to play solely because of the pace of Vinicius

[Yorkykopite]

I expect Konate to play solely because of the pace of Vinicius

I keep hearing this. It seems a bit rubbish to me.

Vinicius is a threat but there are several things that will stop him - things that are more important than the slight margin in pace between Konate and Matip. First and foremost is defending high and cutting off the supply to Vinicius. This is primarily a job for our attack and midfield. The second is a high line from our defence, with no raggedness in it. Matip is superb at maintaining this (along with Virg). The third is a command performance from Trent Alexander-Arnold. He needs to be on the front foot attacking and thereby forcing Vinicius backwards towards his own half of the field. He needs to be canny in defence and understand when to reinforce the right side of the field and support his centre backs.

Let's face it. If we are simply relying on an individual's speed to neutralise Vinicius it wouldn't be Konate or Matip at centre back. It would be Joe Gomez.

[groove]

Also, it's so conservative for the stronger team to weaken themselves with what they can do on the ball, just because you're wary of one player. Yes, you might gain a little bit of pace with Konate, but you lose the ability of Matip to move the ball forward like pretty much no other centreback around can.

[Yorkykopite]

Also, it's so conservative for the stronger team to weaken themselves with what they can do on the ball, just because you're wary of one player. Yes, you might gain a little bit of pace with Konate, but you lose the ability of Matip to move the ball forward like pretty much no other centreback around can.

Correct. And this might be especially important if Thiago doesn't make it. We'll need all the help we can get to break lines from the back.

[El Lobo]

Beautiful dilemma to have, both tremendous players.

[newterp]

I keep hearing this. It seems a bit rubbish to me.

Vinicius is a threat but there are several things that will stop him - things that are more important than the slight margin in pace between Konate and Matip. First and foremost is defending high and cutting off the supply to Vinicius. This is primarily a job for our attack and midfield. The second is a high line from our defence, with no raggedness in it. Matip is superb at maintaining this (along with Virg). The third is a command performance from Trent Alexander-Arnold. He needs to be on the front foot attacking and thereby forcing Vinicius backwards towards his own half of the field. He needs to be canny in defence and understand when to reinforce the right side of the field and support his centre backs.

Let's face it. If we are simply relying on an individual's speed to neutralise Vinicius it wouldn't be Konate or Matip at centre back. It would be Joe Gomez.

It's also a very very very big occasion - one that Matip already played in and won. I wouldn't discount that either.

[bornandbRED]

Has to start the final

[disgraced cake]

It's been some season from Konate, 28 games I think with zero defeats, and as far as I remember the only one of those he didn't start and complete was the League Cup final where he played extra time. That being said Matip has been around the block a few times and has been our best defender this season for me. I'd start him alongside Virgil. I actually expect him to go with Konate given he's played 5 of the 6 knockout matches, though.

[BobPaisley3]

Has played as a 6 in the past has Joel, just throwing it out there.

[Dubred]

Konate started the FA Cup final. Consequently I reckon Matip is nailed on to start the Champions League final.

[jepovic]

I keep hearing this. It seems a bit rubbish to me.

Vinicius is a threat but there are several things that will stop him - things that are more important than the slight margin in pace between Konate and Matip. First and foremost is defending high and cutting off the supply to Vinicius. This is primarily a job for our attack and midfield. The second is a high line from our defence, with no raggedness in it. Matip is superb at maintaining this (along with Virg). The third is a command performance from Trent Alexander-Arnold. He needs to be on the front foot attacking and thereby forcing Vinicius backwards towards his own half of the field. He needs to be canny in defence and understand when to reinforce the right side of the field and support his centre backs.

Let's face it. If we are simply relying on an individual's speed to neutralise Vinicius it wouldn't be Konate or Matip at centre back. It would be Joe Gomez.

I'd add that Matip is a better passer, the best of our CBs IMO (not that Konate is bad). Matip is excellent at passing into the feet of our attackers behind the opposition midfield. This is really important when we get pressured. When we face a low line, his forward runs are also a real threat. Matip is a player that relies heavily on a great vision.

The main argument for Konate is not pace, which is overrated like you say, but strength on set pieces.

[SamLad]

Beautiful dilemma to have, both tremendous players.

absolutely.  regardless of who starts at CB we'll have a fabulous back 4.

[RyanBabel19]

Not seen it mentioned but contender for player of the season

Insanely good season

[Yorkykopite]

I'd add that Matip is a better passer, the best of our CBs IMO (not that Konate is bad). Matip is excellent at passing into the feet of our attackers behind the opposition midfield. This is really important when we get pressured. When we face a low line, his forward runs are also a real threat. Matip is a player that relies heavily on a great vision.

The main argument for Konate is not pace, which is overrated like you say, but strength on set pieces.

I agree with all of that. I especially love Liverpool corners when I know Konate is lurking.

But, still, Matip is the one who gets most goals!

Liverpool spend most of the time with the ball. Unlike Kyiv I believe we'll have more of the ball than Real in the final. The danger is sterile possession , as always. Konate, as you say, is a very good passer, and decent on the move, but Matip is sensational. That's why he'll start.

[thegoodfella]

Matip has been phenomenal this season, and seems to be peaking at the right time for the final. His runs and passing from the back, the straight daggers that he plays straight through the midfield could prove to be useful against Real. Should start in my opinion.

[Bobinhood]

I just now cottoned on to the play he made to set up Mo for the winning goal, i was lost in the euphoria at the time and never watched it back until now, but corner he rises fires a bullet header that may have crossed the line but play on. the ball loops back, he leaps again looking second choice at first and directs another really great header directly to Mo who knocks it in.

So he gets my vote for Paris on that alone.

[fenre]

It seems that Matip is close to being ready to start. Do you think he will get the place this weekend, or is that too early?

[Knight]

Too early. Gomez is doing well. No reason to change it.

[jepovic]

He's the best passer out from the back of our CBs, and maybe that's exactly what we need now. Not that Gomez has been bad, but Matip is much better at finding solutions in buildup.

[Schmidt]

I think he'll be back in the team soon, but maybe after Everton. Gomez is good at defending large areas with his pace and so could be a good choice to deal with Gordon/Gray, Matip is much better defending close to goal and filling gaps so I think he'll start the CL games and the two will rotate for a bit unless injury strikes again.

Once Matip is back up to speed I think I'd prefer him in the league games though, he's just the better all round player.

[Bergersrightwingviews]

Does the title say “MaPip” for a reason?

[Kop Kings]

Does the title say “MaPip” for a reason?

It was from a game last season, I think a pundit (maybe an ex-ref?) was referring to him as 'Joel Mapip' for the entire game

[Dim Glas]

Out of respect for our great Joël, his name should surely be spelt correctly now, that joke is long gone 

[Red Beret]

It seems that Matip is close to being ready to start. Do you think he will get the place this weekend, or is that too early?

The last thing we want to do is take an injury.prone player returning from injury and start him against fucking Everton. 

[PIPA23]

glad he is back.

[SamLad]

glad he is back.

x 100

[farawayred]

glad he is back.

Brought some composure at the back when he came in. We need that calmness right now.

[number 168]

Brought some composure at the back when he came in. We need that calmness right now.

And his bringing the ball out from the back and picking a pass, all adds to confidence as it improves our attack

[newterp]

one guy we should think about extending - even for a few years.

[killer-heels]

one guy we should think about extending - even for a few years.

We shouldnt, not yet anyway.

[Cormack Snr]

Brilliant, brilliant player, I have seen all the centre-half's going back to Yeats and he would actually get in my all-time team and for me is better than VVD. I must see the game different to some on here when they were saying Gomez was playing well. Matip has the ability to bring the ball forward while Gomez seems to stop and then pass it side-ways again.

[1892tillforever]

Brilliant, brilliant player, I have seen all the centre-half's going back to Yeats and he would actually get in my all-time team and for me is better than VVD. I must see the game different to some on here when they were saying Gomez was playing well. Matip has the ability to bring the ball forward while Gomez seems to stop and then pass it side-ways again.

Yet he somehow seems to continually be underrated. I always feel better when he plays as he rarely seems to make a mistake. He isn't perfect but he is as good a defender as there is in the league when fully fit. It is no coincidence that we nearly won the lot the very season he stayed fit with 43 appearances, by far the most he has had for us and the most since the 2011/12 season. Such a grave pity he gets injured so often 

[Sudden Death Draft Loser]

Brilliant, brilliant player, I have seen all the centre-half's going back to Yeats and he would actually get in my all-time team and for me is better than VVD. I must see the game different to some on here when they were saying Gomez was playing well. Matip has the ability to bring the ball forward while Gomez seems to stop and then pass it side-ways again.

Totally agree