Liverpool defender Joel Matip back in full training, says Jurgen Klopp

Published on: 20 January 2021

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says Joel Matip has returned to full training but will face a late fitness test to determine if he can start against Burnley.

Matip has missed Liverpool's last four matches after suffering a muscular injury against West Brom on December 27.

Klopp was forced to play two midfielders - Jordan Henderson and Fabinho - at centre-back in Sunday's goalless draw with Manchester United, which saw Liverpool drop to fourth in the Premier League.

The defending champions next face Burnley at Anfield on Thursday, live on Sky Sports, and Klopp is hopeful Matip can make his return to the side.

"Joel is in full training. Now we will have to make a decision, we will see how that will be tomorrow," said Klopp at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday.

"Yesterday he trained completely normal."

Klopp also confirmed Diogo Jota is still a number of weeks away from a return after suffering a knee injury against Midtjylland on December 9.

"Diogo is still a few weeks away, I don't know exactly how long but it will not be in the next one or two weeks," added Klopp.

"He needs time, the injury needs time. How much I miss the player is not important because when the player is not there, we are not allowed to miss him. We never think like that.

"That is why we have to deal with the situation, that is what we've done and we'll all be happy when, hopefully in the near future, he will be back again."

Klopp: Our form is not a catastrophe

Liverpool have not won in their last four Premier League matches and have also not scored in their last three league games - their worst run since 2005.

However, Klopp insists their current form is not the "catastrophe" it is being made out to be.

"I understand the need to talk all the time about it but we cannot change it in a minute," he said.

"Most of the things the public thinks of we do as well but someone has to be calm in this situation, it is not a catastrophe.

"It is not perfect but I saw a lot of good signs again in the Man United game but because we didn't win, nobody was interested."

Source: m.allfootballapp.com

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