Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said he hopes the ankle injury sustained by Joel Matip during Sunday’s friendly win over Wigan Athletic is not a serious one.
Matip, a German-born Cameroon international, joined on a free transfer from Bundesliga side Schalke at the end of last season. He limped off in the final stages in the 2-0 win over the Championship side.
“I hope it’s only a minor problem. It’s not too serious, hopefully. We had to make the decision of Joel or Dejan (Lovren), who has to play the whole 90 minutes?” Klopp told the club’s website.
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With defender Mamadou Sakho, who underwent treatment for a long-standing Achilles problem, set to miss the Premier League opener against Arsenal on August 14, Klopp is confident Matip, 24, will resume training on Tuesday.
“It’s the foot he had problems with in the past and then he had a little bit of pain when pre-season started because of the intensity. He said he’s had it one or two times already. He’s used to it,” Klopp said.
“I think tomorrow (Monday) he’ll rest, then he can go again.”
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