Liverpool Center-back Crisis Is Getting Worse, Joel Matip Injured Ankle Ligament

Joel Matip at the Totteham meal (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Liverpool's center-back crisis is getting worse after coach Jurgen Klopp confirmed that Joel Matip suffered a ligament injury to his ankle during their win over Tottenham.

The former Cameroon international had to be substituted in the first half as the Reds won 3-1 in the Premier League on Friday at Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium.

After the match, Klopp later revealed that Matip's injury problem appeared to be serious.

"The ankle ligament," he told reporters at a press conference quoted by Antara from Goal.

The 29-year-old defender will undergo a scan to determine the severity of the injury, but initial estimates suggest that Matip's problem is serious.

This was described by Klopp as an "extraordinary situation," with all three of their senior center-backs absent, and Fabinho also having problems.

The Brazilian has missed a match at Spurs with the club revealing he has "minor muscle problems" and as a result is a doubt for the season when the Reds travel to West Ham on Sunday night.

Fabinho's natural position is in midfield, but Klopp sometimes places him at the heart of the defense when he runs out of defensive options.

Apart from Fabinho, the German coach can also play his captain Jordan Henderson back into defense.

Henderson partnered Matip in the first half and Nat Phillips in the second when he beat the Spurs. This season Liverpool have played 11 different defender combinations.

After the match, Klopp was asked about Liverpool's efforts to overcome this crisis in the January transfer window.

"We think of everything, as you can imagine ... We think of everything all the time," said Klopp.

"We are trying to do the right thing and we have to do the right thing. I'm not picky, but we have to find the right players ... We still have players, but it's incredible what happens in defense. "

Liverpool managed to break their five-game winless league streak with a dominant display in north London.

Roberto Firmino, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Sadio Mane each scored a goal for Liverpool in that match.

The win saw them move up to fourth in the Premier League standings, four points behind leaders Manchester City.