Reaction from the Liverpool manager after the clash with Newcastle in the Premier League
Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Joel Matip’s withdrawal was not injury-related as 10-man Liverpool beat Newcastle United 2-1 on Sunday.
Matip started his first game of the season alongside Virgil van Dijk but the Reds were forced to play over two thirds with a man less after the captain was dismissed by referee John Brooks for what was viewed as a last-ditch foul on Alexander Isak.
Van Dijk will now miss next week’s visit from Aston Villa as a result and with Ibrahima Konate also struggling with an injury, Matip’s substitution, for Premier League debutant Jarell Quansah, raised fears of further depletion in the centre-halves ranks.
However, Klopp eased concerns of an injury for Matip ahead of that game, revealing the defender was switched due to fatigue having played much of the contest with a man less.
“Was Joel injured? No, the big man looked a bit tired, let me say it like this,” Klopp confirmed. “It is long ago [since] he played a full 90 minutes, Joe Gomez played obviously around 70 and we had Quansah, he is great, he is a real talent.
“Jarell played two really good passes, which were super important passes, I would say. Defensively we needed luck a bit and we were a bit too passive I would say so they could shoot but we had Ali (Alisson Becker).
“Besides the result there were obviously a few nice stories and bringing Quansah on is one of them.”
Anthony Gordon gave the hosts the lead in the first half but a late double from substitute Darwin Nunez won it for Klopp’s men who are now fourth in the Premier League table having taken seven points from their first three fixtures.
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