Liverpool's injury problems have intensified ahead of Monday's Premier League meeting with Crystal Palace at Anfield, with Joel Matip the latest player to be added to the casualty list. The 31-year-old centre-back is reported to have sat out training on Friday as a precaution over a groin problem, casting doubt on his availability for the visit of the Eagles.
Matip would become the eighth senior player unavailable to Jurgen Klopp, joining Ibrahima Konate, Thiago Alcantara, Diogo Jota, Curtis Jones, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Calvin Ramsey and reserve goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. Konate is already sidelined with a knee injury sustained in pre-season and is not expected back for another month, leaving the Reds short of recognised centre-backs.
Should Matip fail to recover in time, Joe Gomez is poised to deputise, provided he is fully fit. The 25-year-old missed the majority of last season after undergoing surgery on a patella tendon injury in November. Nat Phillips and Sepp van den Berg, who spent last season on loan at Preston North End, are alternative options, and Liverpool are reportedly reconsidering whether to allow Van den Berg to depart on a temporary basis this summer.
In midfield, Klopp confirmed Naby Keita has recovered from illness and will be in contention, while Harvey Elliott could start in place of Thiago, who faces four to six weeks out with a hamstring injury sustained against Fulham. Kostas Tsimikas has also returned to fitness.
Addressing the wider situation, Klopp said: “I am happy with the strength, size and quality of my squad. We have injuries, that's how it is. Now it is the question how long the players will be out and there are different solutions for it. One of them - and there are plenty - is the transfer market but the transfer market only makes sense if you can bring in the right player, the right player not a player. It is easy to bring a player in but that doesn't help even for a week for some players.”
