---
title: "Liverpool: Journalist blasts ‘shaky’ Joel Matip vs Wolves"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-joel-matip-latest-match-reaction-news-updates/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Chloe Chadwick"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2023-02-04T17:05:27Z"
modified: "2023-02-04T17:05:27Z"
---

# Liverpool: Journalist blasts ‘shaky’ Joel Matip vs Wolves

**[Liverpool](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-fc-news/) defender [Joel Matip](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tag/joel-matip/) has been blasted for his ‘shaky’ performance during the [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) game vs Wolverhampton Wanderers by journalist [James Pearce](https://twitter.com/JamesPearceLFC).**

### The Lowdown: Bad day at the office

The Reds were the visitors at Molineux Stadium this afternoon where they suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Julen Lopetegui’s side, and it was a bad day at the office for one man in particular.

The Merseyside outfit’s centre-back attempted to block a cutback by Hwang Hee-chan, but instead of closing him down, the ball deflected off his trailing leg and found the back of net, meaning that an own goal was scored with just [five](https://www.flashscore.co.uk/match/OfFY5nnd/#/match-summary/match-summary) minutes on the clock.

### The Latest: Pearce’s reaction

Taking to [Twitter](https://twitter.com/jamespearcelfc/status/1621888243946979332?s=46&t=q_7RWZwj3jgp34WHqk9dNg), Pearce reacted to Matip’s defensive error and couldn’t believe how he failed to clear the ball away from his box. He wrote:

“Just absolute basics. No idea why Matip \[was\] so slow to spot that danger. He’s looked so shaky in these opening stages.”

\[freshpress-quiz id=”419074″\]

### The Verdict: Needs to be removed

Liverpool have both Virgil Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate [out of action](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/liverpools-injury-list-suspensions-and-availability) leaving Joe Gomez and Matip the only senior centre-back options available, but the latter has not given the best account of himself since returning to the side.

The 6 foot 4 colossus had a nightmare in the 3-0 defeat to Brighton back in January and today he delivered a very similar nervy display at the heart of the backline.

The Bochum native received a match rating of just [6.0](https://www.sofascore.com/liverpool-wolverhampton/dsU) against the Old Gold, the lowest in the whole of the Reds squad, which just about says it all.

Van Dijk is [reportedly](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/van-dijk-firmino-injury-breaking-26142132) edging closer to a comeback, and it should be a no-brainer of a decision for Jurgen Klopp to take Matip out of the team and replace him with the Dutch wall.

\[freshpress-poll id=”338171″\]