Jurgen Klopp has explained why Liverpool have to adopt a cautious approach to selecting Joel Matip on a matchday given his ankle issues.
The centre-back, who joined the Anfield side on a free transfer from Schalke in the summer, has been a revelation in their rearguard.
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He has sat out the defeat to Bournemouth as well as the victories over Middlesbrough and Everton as the club try to manage the 25-year-old’s games in order for his injury to settle.
“We could have tried to bring him back in the Everton match, [but] then it would have been a 95 per cent probability that he is out for the next one,” Klopp explained as he previewed Tuesday’s encounter against Stoke City at Anfield.
“So we decided to give him the time he needed to really settle, because he has had these problems for a few weeks.
“It was always close – next game probably, then not, then he could play, then he was in the squad but we couldn’t use him. We tried everything.
“But at the end you have to accept how it is. It is not possible that he feels 100 per cent comfortable and that makes it really difficult.
“I spoke to him a few minutes ago and he was very positive. But he [has been] out of training for a few days already, and as long as we have other players in training all the time, we will choose them.”
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