Liverpool: Joel Matip joins injury list before Rangers clash

Adding to the injuries sustained by Reds duo Luis Diaz and Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool centre-back Joel Matip is also now sidelined, reports The Athletic’s James Pearce.

The Lowdown: Diaz and Trent hurt at Arsenal

After just 42 minutes of play in the 3-2 loss to Arsenal on Sunday, Diaz was forced off the pitch after sustaining a knee injury.

According to Sky Sports, the 25-year-old is expected to be out of action until after the World Cup, although a scan revealed a welcome boost as the Colombian will not require surgery.

During the same game, Alexander-Arnold was substituted at half-time having suffered an ankle injury accidentally inflicted by Gunners winger Gabriel Martinelli, and the full-back will miss around two weeks.

The Latest: Matip out

Adding to an already decimated Liverpool back-line, Pearce has now revealed another injury blow for Jurgen Klopp’s men.

Taking to Twitter, The Athletic journalist said:

“Liverpool’s injury problems have deepened with Joel Matip expected to be sidelined for around two weeks by a calf problem.”

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The Verdict: Bad to worse

Having returned from injury towards the end of August, Matip featured for Klopp in all three of the Reds’ Champions League fixtures this season.

He also returned to the starting line-up for the previous two Premier League outings, and the absence of the former Cameroon international will come as a big blow to the side’s build-up from the back due to his ‘quality’ attacking abilities, in the words of Virgil van Dijk.

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As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe over the past year, the defender ranks in the top one percent for progressive carries and touches in the attacking penalty area, and also in the top four percent for assists and shots total.

With Ibrahima Konate making a late cameo during the Arsenal clash after a two-month injury absence, Klopp will be hopeful the Frenchman can step up in Matip’s shoes, but the likelihood that Joe Gomez will be filling in for Alexander-Arnold means there is virtually now zero depth in the heart of defence.