Liverpool Handed Huge Injury Boost Ahead Of West Ham Clash

Liverpool have been handed a huge injury boost with Joel Matip expected to be fit to face West Ham at Anfield on Sunday afternoon after recovering from an ankle injury, according to Sky Sports News.

Matip was forced to miss the Merseysiders dramatic 4-3 defeat to AFC Bournemouth at the weekend which saw Liverpool throw away a two-goal lead on two separate occasions to drop three valuable points on the south coast.

Lucas Leiva was drafted in to start alongside Dejan Lovren at the back but the Brazilian failed to fill the void left by Matip as Liverpool threw away the game thanks to some calamitous defending to let Bournemouth score three times during the closing stages of the game.

However, it looks like the Reds have now been handed a major boost as Sky Sports News claim that Matip is expected to be fit to return to the squad for Sunday’s visit of West Ham.

The 25-year-old returned to light training at the end of last week and took part in training with the rest of the squad during a warm weather camp in Barcelona this afternoon, so the Cameroon international is set to return this weekend.

The news will come as a welcome relief to Jurgen Klopp as Matip has been outstanding since joining Liverpool from Schalke in the summer and the clubs only two defeats this season have come when the centre-back has been out injured.

Liverpool have conceded just nine goals in the 11 league games in which Matip has played, compared to the nine they have leaked in the three matches without him, so this shows just how important he has become to the Merseysiders.

Klopp will be demanding a response from his players following Sunday’s disappointing collapse which has left them sitting third in the Premier League table and four points adrift of leaders Chelsea.