Joel Matip has been a fantastic signing for Liverpool this season. With Mamadou Sakho not featuring at all for the Reds in the first half of the campaign and being loaned to Crystal Palace in January, the Cameroon international has been a mainstay in defence and has adapted to the Premier League with ease.
Matip, who arrived at Anfield on a free transfer, has been one of the positives of Liverpool’s season, and during his 16 league appearances, the side had only lost on one occasion before the defeat away to Leicester City on Monday night.
Completing just over 250 appearances for Bundesliga side Schalke 04, the 25-year-old has successfully carried his form into the Premier League.
On the other hand, there is still room for improvement. Alongside the dominant aerial presence, sliding tackles and intelligent distribution, he is also prone to strange fouls or bizarre decisions. Matip has a tendency to go into tackles very aggressively and also has the habit of proceeding high up the pitch while in possession.
He is the type defender who likes to play on the edge, which can also involve doing more than just defending and helping the team go forward in attack. Playing at the half-way line leaves a centre-back open to get caught out on the counter-attack, which is an area in which Matip needs to improve going forward.
This was revealed during the Hull City game in early February. Matip held a high line as Liverpool chased an equaliser, but Oumar Niasse received the ball after making a darting run in behind him. The forward went on to slot the ball past Simon Mignolet to secure all three points for his team.
Nevertheless, former Liverpool defender, Jamie Carragher, has been full of praise for Matip.
“He’s made a huge difference since he’s come in. He brings calmness to the rest of the team. The effect he’s had on [Dejan] Lovren as well. It’s not just his own performance, it’s the effect he has on everyone else.”
Considering the defender’s performances over the course of the season, Carragher is correct. Matip has had an instant impact since moving to Anfield. However, he is not the finished article yet and has some way to go in order to become one of the best centre-backs in the league.
Liverpool have been suffering from defensive issues for the past few years now, but the way things have gone so far this term, Matip could be the ideal individual that solidifies the heart of their defence.
Although Lovren, who was considered the side’s weak link last season, has improved and has been able to form a partnership with Matip, he has failed to replicate the form he showed at Southampton and needs replacing once the summer transfer window arrives.
Since his move from Germany, Matip has already been regarded as the best centre-back within the squad. Once Jurgen Klopp digs into the summer transfer funds to recruit the right partner for him, Liverpool could forge a steady defence.
With a central defender alongside who sweeps up behind him and compliments his best assets, there’s no reason why Matip can’t be permanent fixture in Liverpool’s back-line for years to come.
