Once Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk have recovered from their World Cup exertions and are back in the Liverpool squad, Jurgen Klopp will have four senior central defenders competing for two spots. It is a position the Reds’ manager has not been in too often in 2022/23.
Liverpool played 22 matches prior to the mid-season break, and for only three of them were the leading quartet of centre-backs all available. It’s just as well that Van Dijk and Joe Gomez have remained fit throughout, as Konate and Joel Matip each missed 13 games.
The Reds have had a goal difference of zero across the time that either of the latter pair have played in the Premier League this season. Matip’s three appearances were against Fulham (which ended 2-2), Brighton (3-3) and Arsenal (2-3, though 2-2 at the time he went off). His lack of game time, combined with the difficulties Liverpool faced in those matches, means we haven’t seen many of the 31-year-old’s trademark runs up field this term.
