Liverpool defender Joel Matip to miss rest of season with foot injury

Liverpool defender Joel Matip is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to a foot injury.

Matip sustained the injury during the 0-0 draw with Everton on June 21 – Liverpool’s first match back after the suspension of the season, he was replaced 17 minutes before the end of the game and was then ruled out of his side’s clash with Crystal Palace.

The center-back subsequently missed the 4-0 win over Crystal Palace on June 24 and admits he is unlikely to feature in the rest of the campaign. “This season I will be not back on the pitch but for next season, I hope I’m going to be quite early a direct help for the team,” he told the club’s website.

The 28-year-old missed 84 days of action earlier in the campaign due to a knee injury before returning in January. With the 28-year-old now ruled out for the remainder of the campaign, Joe Gomez is likely to keep his place in the side and partner Virgil van Dijk at the back.

The pair helped the Reds keep a clean sheet as they ran out 4-0 winners over Crystal Palace last time out which, following Manchester City’s defeat to Chelsea, was enough to see Jurgen Klopp’s men secure their first-ever Premier League crown.