Team News: Liverpool provide crucial update on first-team defender ahead of today’s FA Cup tie

Team News: Liverpool assistant manager Peter Krawietz provides an update on Joel Matip return ahead of Shrewsbury tie

Speaking in an interview, as quoted by Liverpool Echo, Liverpool assistant manager Peter Krawietz has suggested that Joel Matip has made a return to training sessions after completing isolation. 

Joel Matip got a Covid-positive result one week back and has been isolated since then. The Liverpool central defender missed the trip to Chelsea on 2nd January. Pepijn Lijnders started Ibrahima Konaté alongside Virgil van Dijk in the backline. However, the duo couldn’t stop Thomas Tuchel’s team from making a comeback as they came back from 2 goals down to share the spoils on the day.

The rapid surge in Covid cases in the Liverpool first-team set-up obliged the EFL to postpone the Reds’ Carabao Cup tie against Arsenal. However, the absence of first-choice centre back Joel Matip was a concern for us.

Jurgen Klopp and Pepijn Lijnders have also been isolated since testing positive. Liverpool assistant manager Peter Krawietz answered the questions in the recent press conference due to the absences of his colleagues. 

Krawietz revealed that Matip has already returned from isolation and took part in the training session ahead of the FA Cup match. However, the assistant manager is still unclear whether the Cameroon international can feature against Shrewsbury Town. 

“Joel Matip joined training yesterday again, but we have to see whether he is available or not.”

Jurgen Klopp experienced a massive disadvantage last season due to the absence of Joel Matip. However, the 30-year-old made a comeback this season and has been a stellar partner for Virgil van Dijk whenever fit. The Cameroon star has already featured in 21 matches

Jurgen Klopp bought Ibrahima Konaté from RB Leipzig, which has undoubtedly boosted the depth of this team. However, Jurgen Klopp would expect his more experienced duo to oversee the operations in defence against top-level attacking line-ups. 

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On top of that, the injury issues and Coronavirus threat have created significant difficulties for us in the last month or so. And that is why, the return of Joel Matip indeed is emphatic news, and his comeback to the starting lineup would give an extra boost to Jurgen Klopp’s intentions of landing a silverware this season. 

We would be alright against Shrewsbury today without Matip, but with two decisive Carabao Cup semi-final ties against Arsenal coming up later this month, we would need our best men on the job to help us secure a berth in the final.