Regardless of the fact that it was a pre-season friendly, the sight of Joel Matip starting at center-back against Bayern Munich on Wednesday raised worries among Liverpool fans.
So far this summer, the Cameroonian has been relegated to substitute action, with Ibrahima Konate long entrenched as new club captain Virgil van Dijk’s first-choice center-back partner. However, after coming in at half-time to partner Jarell Qunasah in the Reds’ first three warm-up games, Matip was chosen to start ahead of the Frenchman against the Bavarian giants.
In reality, he battled before being substituted at halftime for Konate. Bayern’s first two goals in the 4-3 loss came after he was left exposed at the back, despite playing as the right-sided center-back. As Liverpool were caught on the counter, Trent Alexander-Arnold was turned too easily by Serge Gnabry after he slipped in behind the defense for Bayern’s opener, before the same man sprinted into the space behind him again, cutting back for Leroy Sane to equalize.
Despite Liverpool’s new 3-2-2-3 shape, Matip lacks the quickness and movement of Konate to cover for Alexander-Arnold moving forward into midfield. As an aging player, he no longer has the legs for such a job, resulting in defensive issues.
The defender, who turns 32 next week, is out of contract next summer and is expected to leave Anfield at the end of the season. While it was originally suggested that Matip could leave this summer, he is now expected to finish out his present contract.
Bosman signed the 31-year-old from Schalke in 2016, and he has made 187 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 11 goals. While he has won every major award with Liverpool, his Anfield career has been marred by injuries.
He would make a Liverpool-record 43 appearances in 2021/22 as he helped Jurgen Klopp’s side win the domestic cup double and fall agonizingly short of an unprecedented quadruple. However, after failing to make even 15 appearances in both the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons, it was followed by only 21 appearances last year as old troubles resurfaced.
With Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Roberto Firmino, James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxalde-Chamberlain all departing Anfield this summer, Sadio Mane and Divock Origi exiting last year, and Gini Wijnaldum and Xherdan Shaqiri leaving the summer before, and Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren calling time on their own Liverpool careers after winning the Premier League in 2020, Matip is likely to be the next ageing star from Klopp’s all-conquering side to depart for pastures new.
Some would argue that, as a devoted servant, his time at Anfield should have already expired. Injury-prone, aging, and no longer suited to the Reds’ system, he has appeared to be a ghost of his former self when called upon throughout the majority of 2023. Although he is not part of the club’s long-term plans, Anfield officials will hope that he is capable of temporarily restoring his fortunes in order to leave on a good note.
However, while his start alongside Van Dijk against Bayern was intended to provide Matip playing time in a first-choice defense in the new system, he still doesn’t appear at ease in such experimental settings when covering for Alexander-Arnold. He may not leave Liverpool this summer, but such teething troubles highlight the Reds’ need for a new center-back and present them with a continuing quandary when it comes to their use of the veteran.
A left-sided center-back remains on Liverpool’s transfer wishlist, with Andy Robertson’s long-term ability in this more defensively-inclined hybrid post raising concerns. However, it remains to be seen whether the Reds will be successful in their quest, since rumored target Levi Colwill has recently signed a new six-year contract with Chelsea, prompting club officials to shift their focus elsewhere.
On paper, though, such a signing would not compensate for Matip’s own troubles in the system. But perhaps it isn’t necessary.
