Liverpool not only dropped two points against West Brom, but the after effects of an immensely frustrating 1-1 draw at Anfield could be felt into the New Year following Joel Matip’s injury.
Jurgen Klopp’s side were pegged back by Semi Ajayi’s late header after Sadio Mane had set them on course for a seemingly routine win.
Sam Allardyce’s cautious approach ultimately paid off as the Baggies picked up their second point against the established ‘big six’ inside a fortnight having also drawn 1-1 at Manchester City.
While Klopp will want to put the result to one side as quickly as possible, Matip’s latest setback has cast a further shadow over Sunday’s result. The Liverpool boss was unable to provide much new information in the immediate aftermath, telling Sky Sports: “[We] don’t know yet, he felt his adductor and we don’t know more.”
“Joel told me he felt something in his adductor and that’s obviously not too good,” he added in his post-match press conference. “I am not sure how serious it is now, but it was serious enough that he had to leave the pitch. The rest of the information I will get tomorrow.”
The centre-back went down after clearing an attack from the visitors, immediately signalling to the bench to come off around the hour mark.
Matip setback causes more injury chaos
Rhys Williams, 19, replaced him for his second league appearance, but it raises fresh questions over whether the champions will need to strengthen in January particularly as they continue to compete on three fronts.
That is a conundrum the board will already have been assessing, according to Jamie Carragher. “It’s a massive worry but it’s not a new worry,” the former Liverpool defender said on Sky Sports.
“Joel Matip will not play every game between now and the end of the season, you knew that even before the injury today and that’s why it’s paramount that Liverpool sign someone in January. I said that as soon as [Virgil] Van Dijk had his injury against Everton.
“Fabinho’s gone there and looked like a top-class centre-back in that position so maybe people at the club felt the need wasn’t as urgent but Joel Matip is just too injury prone.
“His body can’t take the rigours of playing Premier League football week in, week out.”
A minor adductor injury could rule Matip out for a couple of weeks, but that would still see him miss the rest of the festive run-in. A more serious strain could see him absent for even longer.
With Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez both likely to be out for the majority of the second half of the season, that poses a significant problem for Klopp.
Games Matip could miss
- December 30 – Newcastle (A)
- January 4 – Southampton (A)
- January 8 – Aston Villa (A)
In the short term, it was of equal annoyance to the German that his players were unable to translate 78 per cent possession and 17 shots into three points.
“I don’t think that anybody can expect that a team plays like West Brom in the first half, like a 6-4-0 or whatever it was,” Klopp told Sky Sports.
“We did OK, we scored a goal, didn’t give anything away in the first half, especially no set pieces.”
Williams may be called upon again for Wednesday’s trip to face Newcastle at St James’ Park.
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