#2 Joel Matip
Trending
Matip has arguably been Liverpool’s best signing of the summer. He joined Liverpool as a free agent after his contract at Schalke expired at the end of last season.
At the end of the 2015/16 season, one obvious change Liverpool had to make was to ensure that their defence did not leak too many goals. And Matip has been pivotal in ensuring Liverpool haven’t been too shaky at the back.
In many ways, Matip’s importance to this Liverpool side has been exemplified by the Reds’ performances when he has not played. He has had a niggling ankle problem which has kept him out of Liverpool’s recent games.
The Reds have conceded 11 goals in 12 games when Matip had played. When the Cameroonian has been missing, that number is nine goals in six games. It is a staggering difference and a testament to the quality that Matip has added to this Liverpool side.
In Klopp’s system, the centre-backs need to be able to pick incisive passes and Matip fits the bill perfectly as he is decisive in his passing. He plays his passes with conviction and sometimes even strides forward to join the attack. In defence too, his reading of the game is excellent and he has shown fantastic aerial ability too.
But for Klopp and for Matip, the important thing will be for him to show the sort of consistency that separates the great players from the good players. The first half of his first season at Anfield has been a success and no one can take that away from Matip.
Grade – 8/10 – He has made a real difference for Jurgen Klopp as the Reds bid to win the league for the first time in 27 years.
