As free transfers go, they don’t get significantly better than Joel Matip, a participant who leaves an enduring mark on Liverpool supporters after eight seasons at Anfield.
There have been instances you might argue that he was top-of-the-line defenders the Premier League needed to supply and others the place you questioned if it was time for Liverpool to chop their losses.
From an computerized starter to the underside of the pecking order and again once more, it about sums up Matip’s rollercoaster at Anfield, a participant with unimaginable capacity however so typically let down by his physique.
Although, when he was on the pitch he hardly ever obtained the broader recognition he deserved – possibly as a result of he was alongside Virgil van Dijk for probably the most half, or possibly others couldn’t see what we did.
A participant prepared for an journey together with his marauding runs, clever and desperate to do the soiled work when the opposition focused him as a substitute of his colossus centre-back associate – they quickly learnt!
Liverpool had Matip on their books for eight seasons, a free switch that may at all times be thought of one of many best.
A loveable large
“When you’re going to shock individuals, higher do it in a optimistic means,” Matip informed the Occasions in 2019, and he most actually achieved simply that.
A cult hero adored by his team-mates and the gamers, the centre-back’s theatrical but real reactions on the pitch and off it earned him a Twitter account (now X) in his honour.
‘No Context Joel Matip‘ is a parody account however by no means with any malicious intent, moderately a spot the place supporters might embrace him for every thing he was.
You solely get to that stage although with an appreciation of his expertise and what he gave to Liverpool.
And maybe Jurgen Klopp stated it greatest when he declared: “In all of the years that I’ve been concerned in soccer, I’m not positive I’ve come throughout too many gamers who’re extra liked than Joel Matip.”
He arrived from Schalke in the summertime of 2016 on a free switch, his capacity within the air and tempo made him a participant clearly appropriate to Jurgen Klopp‘s system.
Because the seasons handed by, his confidence grew and his marauding runs down the pitch turned an indicator of his recreation, adventures you sensed that even he didn’t know the way they might end.
Even Virgil van Dijk joked that Matip “hopes for the perfect just a little bit” on his runs out of defence.
He didn’t at all times look elegant with the ball at his ft however he was elite at opening house for his team-mates and even had an eye fixed for an help – simply ask Divock Origi!
Matip managed a objective in each season apart from his final – he completed with 11 targets – and was a participant who thrived on consistency, which was not at all times forthcoming.
Highs and lows
The 32-year-old averaged 32.6 video games throughout his first three seasons and battled for a place alongside the likes of Joe Gomez, Dejan Lovren and Van Dijk.
He wouldn’t eclipse that look tally once more in a single marketing campaign till 2021/22, with the earlier two seasons riddled by damage.
Matip would handle simply 1,910 minutes mixed throughout 22 begins and three substitute appearances in 2019/20 and 2020/21.
At this time limit, debate over his future was fixed as followers and pundits weighed up his high quality in opposition to the apparent legal responsibility of his physique and having no assure that he might keep match.
The Cameroonian, although, emphatically put any solutions of being on the finish of his Anfield profession to an finish and proved doubters mistaken in 2021/22 by making his most appearances as a Pink.
Fairly unbelievably, he managed 43 video games in all competitions as Klopp’s facet made their push for a quadruple, chipping in with three targets and three assists alongside his defensive duties.
He was on the backside of the pecking order in the summertime prior, however he quickly flipped that the other way up and was key to the Reds’ deployment of their dangerously excessive line. A nod to his power of character.
Slowly the skin world turned conscious of his capacity and for a number of months there, he had arguably eclipsed Van Dijk as the perfect defender within the league.
Might one dish out larger reward than that?
A Pink for all times
The rollercoaster continued into 2022/23 and his ultimate marketing campaign on the membership, with accidents wreaking havoc – none extra so than when he tore his ACL in opposition to Fulham at Anfield.
You knew then that it could be the final we noticed of Matip on the pitch as a Liverpool participant, a harsh actuality to simply accept.
His larger-than-life character made him a personality all of us liked to like and it was at all times apparent the taking part in group felt the identical means.
He leaves behind an abundance of reminiscences and moments that won’t be forgotten in a rush, however maybe how he celebrated the primary League Cup success speaks to why he’s so liked.
Uncooked ardour and pleasure, intuition first and any ideas second. We didn’t hear rather a lot from him through the years however he confirmed us every thing a fan needs to see the place it issues most, on the pitch.
Klopp summed up the sentiment properly, saying: “I’ve stated earlier than that if there was one one who wouldn’t care if he was underrated it could be Joel, however the fact is we couldn’t have rated him extra extremely.
“Not solely has he set the requirements for himself, he has set them for others and this is among the fundamental the explanation why his time right here has been so profitable.”
Matip leaves with 201 appearances to his identify, 5 honours and a legion of loyal followers who want nothing however the perfect for him. Thanks for all of the reminiscences, Joel!
