Liverpool are sweating on the fitness of Cameroon defender Joel Matip ahead of the top-of-the-table clash with league leaders Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs are guests of Liverpool in a the pick of the week 13 games in the league and Cameroon international centre back Matip could miss out on the match due to back spasm. The Cameroon defender picked up the injury during the Premier League away clash at the home of rejuvenated Fulham. Joel Matipwas the only fit senior centre back at Liverpool ahead of this month only for him to sustain an injury during the Fulham game.
Liverpool boss JurgenKlopp has had to shift Brazilian defensive midfielder Fabinho from his natural position to the centre back position due to the injury crisis to his centre backs. Klopp started the season with three senior centre backs but he has had to deal with long-term injuries to two from those three centre backs. Liverpool suffered a major setback in October with the long-term knee injury to Dutch international defender Virgil Van Dijkduring the Merseyside Derby. His injury was followed by the long-term knee problem for another centre back in Joe Gomez. The England international suffered the problem while he was away on duty with the Three Lions. The long-term injuries left Liverpool and JurgenKlopp with only Joel Matip who’s now a big doubt for the Spurs game.
Club skipper Jordan Henderson had to slot into the centre back position in place of the Cameroon defender when he went off injured during the Fulham game at the weekend. As at the time of his substitution at half-time, Liverpool were trailing 1-0 to the Cottagers but they managed to secure a 1-1 draw courtesy the penalty from Mohamed Salah eleven minutes from time after substitute Aboubakar Kamara was penalised for handball.
On Joel Matip, Klopp told reporters on Tuesday during his pre-match press conference for the Spurs game that the defender is receiving treatment from club doctors in a bid for him to be fit for the game.
