Liverpool are back in the Premier League this week after the international break as they face Brighton at Anfield on Sunday.
The Reds have faced wretched luck with injuries this season and Jurgen Klopp was forced to use academy players at one point.
Klopp will be expecting to get some of his key players back from injuries as Liverpool look to take the title challenge to the wire. According to The Times, Curtis Jones could be back this weekend, while Ryan Gravenberch was already passed fit before the international break.
Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson is still two to three weeks away from returning to training while Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota should be back around the same time. Andy Robertson picked up an ankle injury while playing for Scotland, but he should be back shortly.
Klopp will be pleased to find that Joel Matip is back on the grass. The 32-year-old defender was forced off the pitch in December in the 4-3 win over Fulham as he picked up an ACL injury.
For the first time in three months, he was allowed to run around the pitches at the AXA Training Centre. Footage has surfaced, shared by LFC Transfer Room, where Matip was seen doing running on the training pitch.
📸 @LiamWhittle5: Joel Matip was seen running today on the training pitch!
👀 Will we see him back on action this season? pic.twitter.com/v8Mrhy130C
— LFC Transfer Room (@LFCTransferRoom) March 28, 2024
Joel Matip recovery: Huge boost for Liverpool
While there is no guarantee that Matip will play again for Liverpool this season, Klopp will be pleased to see that he is gradually taking major steps in his recovery.
He has a contract at Anfield until the end of the season and there is a possibility that he could be sold in the summer. Matip has always expressed his desire to stay at the club, but Liverpool probably won’t be willing to hand him an extension.
In such a scenario, it will be a great feeling for the player if he can make a comeback to the team, and get some minutes. He has been one of Liverpool’s top signings under Klopp and deserves to wear the shift in front of the fans for one more time.
Since joining Liverpool in 2016, Matip has made over 200 appearances for the Reds. He has made 14 appearances in all competitions this season, and Wataru Endo hailed him as “amazing” for his performance back in September.
