Klopp provides welcome Joel Matip injury update ahead of Tottenham clash

Jurgen Klopp remains hopeful that Joel Matip will be fit to face Tottenham on Wednesday after the defender appeared to join Liverpool’s ever-growing injury list.

The centre-half was forced off at half-time of Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Fulham after what was cited as a back spasm.

The issue left Liverpool – already without Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk – with a makeshift central defence. Skipper Jordan Henderson was forced to drop back and partner Fabinho in the heart of defence.

Matip will now undergo extensive treatment on his back in a bid to be fit for Wednesday’s clash with Tottenham. Jose Mourinho’s side remain ahead of the Reds on goal difference after they were also held 1-1 at Crystal Palace.

Klopp confirmed before the game at Craven Cottage that both Diogo Jota and Kostas Tsimikas will be out for up to eight weeks with knee problems.

He does hope for better news over Matip though and said: “Joel has a spasm in his back.

“We will see. He will get treatment and we will see. I think there will be a chance for Wednesday.

“It’s not that bad at the moment.”

Liverpool opted to drop Henderson back rather than bring on youngster Nat Phillips at Craven Cottage.

But should Matip miss out on Wednesday, Phillips will surely come into contention to face Spurs.

That’s far from ideal with Heung-min Son and Harry Kane both in scintilating form in Tottenham’s attack.

And when asked what it would mean if Matip couldn’t be fit, Klopp was trying to keep the sunny side up.

“We are not struggling with numbers at centre-back, they are just getting younger and younger.

“Today we brought Hendo in to that position.

“I hope Joel will be fine, but I don’t know. We will have to find a solution. That’s how the football season is.”


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Henderson rues sluggish start

Liverpool failed to click into gear until half-time neared, something Henderson was keen to stress was unacceptable.

He told Sky Sports: “We didn’t get going until after the first 30 minutes. You can’t do that in the Premier League or you get punished – like we did.

“The good thing is we reacted well. We dominated and should have scored one or more two. I’m disappointed with the start, pleased with the reaction.

Henderson.Liverpool.TEAMtalk

“We’ll have to look at it but it’s not like us.

“I don’t want to make excuses. I’ll let you talk about the amount of games teams are playing. We flew back from Denmark, prepared well. For whatever reason we didn’t start well. Maybe we could have won the game on another day.

“[At half-time Jurgen Klopp said] We need to start the half like we finished the first half. A few of us weren’t happy with the start. We gave everything in the second half. Fulham made it difficult to create chances.

“When you can’t win, don’t lose. But I felt we were good enough to get the three points.”

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