Joel Matip
Matip’s value to this Liverpool side can be highlighted by the fact that in the 8 Premier League games that he has not featured, Liverpool have shipped in 12 goals out of the 23 they have conceded over the course of the season.
The 25-year old former Schalke defender has established himself as a vital cog in the Reds’ team and the backline has looked much more vulnerable in his absence. The calmness and composure he brings to the Liverpool defence is something that has made him a key player. The way he dealt with the threats of Diego Costa, Harry Kane and Zlatan Ibrahimović etc., earlier in the season was admirable, to say the least.
Klopp jumped on the opportunity as soon as it presented itself, signing the defender on a pre-contract agreement back in February, and he has been proven right in the evaluation of Matip. And what will please the Reds’ boss further is that Matip will not be joining Cameroon for the AFCON and will stay back in England. Matip will have a big say in the title run-in for Liverpool this term.