da cassino： This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
da spicy bet： Joel Matip’s injury came at a bad time for Liverpool.
The Cameroon international started seven of the first nine Premier League games of the season, with Liverpool winning all but one of those he featured in. However, he sustained an issue ahead of the match against Tottenham at Anfield, and he has not played a minute of football since.
Jurgen Klopp will have been far from happy to have been forced into making a change to a winning team, especially considering that Dejan Lovren was the most senior alternative available to him.
The 57-time Croatia international is not a popular figure amongst a portion of the club’s fanbase, whilst there have been questions asked as to whether the 30-year-old is good enough to appear for Liverpool on a regular basis.
However, since he has come back into the side, he has proven his worth to the German manager. The Reds have won each of their last three Premier League games, with the latest coming against Manchester City.
It may not have been the most swashbuckling of performances from the European champions, but their defensive display was almost flawless. The Citizens managed just three shots on target throughout the match – a big drop from their 7.2 per game average this term – and Lovren helped limit their attacking threat.
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With former Schalke player Matip out of the side, the man who moved to Merseyside for £20m from Southampton in 2014 has grabbed his opportunity with two hands. And his return to the side completes an impressive comeback. In the summer, it looked as though he was on his way out of the door after talks were held between his representative and AC Milan.
He has been ridiculed in the past, especially after he declared himself “one of the best defenders in the world”. Whilst he may not be at that level, the £18m-valued man – as per Transfermarkt – is arguably underrated. He has experience in three countries, and has appeared in both the Champions League and World Cup finals. That is something that must not be taken for granted.
All in all, he deserves his chance at Anfield and, with Milan banging on the door once again (Tuttosport via The Daily Mail), he may just be convincing Klopp and co to do all they can to keep him.