Joel Matip played after suffering an ankle ligament injury against Tottenham and wanted to return to the field, revealed Jurgen Klopp.
The Liverpool defender was ready to return, only for Liverpool’s physiotherapists to tie his foot before his ankle swelled and the serious damage was clear.
Klopp explained how it was a “big blow” for the Reds to lose their defender and explained what happened in the locker room at halftime during the 3-1 win over Spurs last week.
Last night, the club confirmed that the former Cameroonian international would miss the rest of the Liverpool season after suffering an ankle ligament injury in a match against Heung-min Son in the final moments of the first half against the team. Jose Mourinho.
AND Klopp confirmed after Sunday’s triumph over West Ham that Matip would be taken to see a specialist before the full extent of the damage could be found.
Get the latest news on Liverpool’s injuries and teams as Klopp faces the team’s dilemma, as well as the latest news and analysis of what’s next for the Reds.
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Now, the Reds coach has opened up about Liverpool’s reaction to Matip’s injury after he joined Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez as longtime absentees at Anfield.
“I don’t have the right words to define that,” said Klopp.
“The things that are happening to the boys are incredible.
“The last one with Joel is a big blow for all of us.
“You don’t just lose one player on the pitch for months, you lose one person in the locker room too.
“The surgeries were necessary and then the players are gone for a while and you are not that close. You don’t need it when the world is not in the best place either.
“It is very tough and he was not lucky in that situation. The challenge was a very good challenge with Son and he played, unbelievable.
“He went into the break and we all thought it was a minor injury, he said he would try.
“We tried to tie him up and while we were holding him, the ankle exploded. There was no chance, then, obviously.
“There is nothing good to say about it, but we have a deadline and he will be back for pre-season, which is great. He will finally have enough time to calm down and can work on specific things that will make him stronger for the future.”
The Reds hired Ben Davies from Preston for a fee of up to £ 1.6 million, before securing Ozan Kabak’s loan to Schalke until the end of the season, to bolster their ranks of defenders.