Jurgen Klopp provides worrying injury update on key Liverpool star
- Matip limped off injured late against Fulham
- Klopp fears centre-back could miss extended period
- Ibrahima Konate also battling a fitness problem
By Tom Gott
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp expects Joel Matip to be sidelined for a lengthy period of time after limping off during Sunday's 4-3 win over Fulham.
Matip started the game but was forced off with 20 minutes to go after getting hurt in a seemingly innocuous challenge. Klopp turned to Ibrahima Konate, whose minutes have been managed as a result of his own fitness problem.
While Klopp had no official diagnosis to offer after the game, he made it clear he does not expect to have Matip available anytime soon.
"We obviously have no pictures yet, no scan yet, but from what you hear and can see, that will not be a short one," Klopp said.
"Unlucky, but we have to just get through this."
While Konate is not yet at full fitness, Liverpool do still have good numbers at centre-back. Club captain Virgil van Dijk remains a permanent fixture and Klopp will now have to choose between Konate, Joe Gomez and young Jarell Quansah.
The emergence of 20-year-old Quansah was behind Liverpool's decision not to sign another centre-back in the summer, with Klopp happy to put his faith in the academy graduate.
However, there are plans for Liverpool to sign a new centre-back in 2024, with Sporting CP's Goncalo Inacio and Benfica's Antonio Silva among the names on the Reds' shortlist.
Liverpool have also previously scouted Bournemouth's Lloyd Kelly, who is also of interest to Tottenham Hotspur.
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