Why the return of defender Joel Matip is a big boost for Liverpool

Liverpool were made to sweat on Monday as they beat West Ham 3-2 at Anfield to maintain their 22-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

It looked like business as usual for Liverpool when they went ahead in the ninth minute as Georginio Wijnaldum headed home Trent Alexander-Arnold’s whipped cross from the right. Three minutes later, though, relegation-battling West Ham drew level with Issa Diop’s angled header from a Robert Snodgrass corner.

Anfield was stunned in the 54th when Hammers substitute Pablo Fornals turned a low cross from Declan Rice into the far corner. An awful error from West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski allowed Liverpool to equalise—Mohamed Salah’s feeble shot from an Andy Robertson pull back creeping through the legs of the Polish shot-stopper.

Fabianski was at fault again when he came off his line but failed to stop Alexander-Arnold looping the ball over him to Sadio Mane who slotted home the winner.

While it was the Reds’ 21st straight victory at Anfield, one player who endured a tough Monday night was defender Joe Gomez.

Gomez, 22, started a 12th consecutive appearance alongside Virgil van Dijk in the Premier League. During his time at Anfield, the England international has often been switched from centre-back to right-back and vice-versa. Injuries also didn’t allow him a clear run in the team, disrupting his rhythm and confidence as a result.

The moment Gomez has been slotted in alongside Virgil van Dijk, the Reds’ defensive system has looked a more solid and convincing unit. In the 11 games he’s started besides Van Dijk at the back before the West Ham fixture, Liverpool conceded a solitary goal and kept a mind-boggling 10 clean sheets.

Against West Ham, the 22-year-old lost his man for Diop’s goal and was not in the right position when Fornals made it 2-1 after the break.

Gomez lost his place to both Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren during different spells this term. Yet, after regaining it, he has barely put a foot wrong. The West Ham game may be a one-off for the 22-year-old. However, Joel Matip was introduced as a late substitute against the Hammers in what was his first league appearance since the 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford in October.

Joel Matip, 28, was in top form at the start of the season. The Cameroonian was a Champions League winner and a firm fixture in Liverpool’s starting XI. In fact, his form was so good that PFA named him September’s Player of the Month. For a player who has blown hot and cold at Anfield since arriving on a free transfer from Schalke in 2016, fans were finally recognising Matip’s qualities.

Read more

• Why Liverpool signing Milot Rashica would be a sensible move
• Why Timo Werner would be a brilliant addition to Liverpool
• Why Liverpool offloading Loris Karius would be a wise decision

However, an unfortunate knee injury kept him out and provided an opportunity for Gomez, who has taken it with both hands and actually performed very well. But with Matip now back and raring to regain his place in Klopp’s starting XI, Gomez simply cannot slip up or drop his performance levels.

Verdict

With Liverpool fighting for the treble, there is still a lot of games to be played and Klopp will have to rotate his squad accordingly. Getting Matip back fit is certainly a boost for the Reds, one that breeds competition within the squad and keeps Gomez on the toes.