Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp gave a defiant response to a reporter who asked a perfectly reasonable question about Joel Matip in his latest press conference.
It was confirmed this week that Matip is expected to miss the rest of the 2023/24 campaign after he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during Sunday’s 4-3 victory over Fulham.
The 32-year-old defender, who is currently in the final year of his contract at Premier League high flyers Liverpool, has enjoyed a productive run in the first-team alongside Virgil van Dijk.
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But this latest setback could potentially be a huge blow to Matip's long term future at Anfield as Ibrahima Konate looks set to become a first-team regular.
Konate started alongside Van Dijk in their most recent 2-0 win over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, and the highly-rated Jarell Quansah was on hand to feature from the bench.
It must be said, however, that Liverpool look a little light on the ground when it comes to defensive reinforcements.
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With all that in mind, Jurgen Klopp was asked about the current defensive situation as they prepare for an action-packed fixture list.
At the pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's clash against Crystal Palace, one reporter asked: "Off the back of losing [Joel] Matip for the rest of the season, do you think you have enough cover in that department to be able to cope until the summer or will you move in January?"
After a lengthy sigh, a clearly agitated Klopp replied: "In eight years, I still don't understand this. You always talk about transfers as if it would be the easiest thing in the world.
"So, like, bringing in a player, finding the money for it, as if we have endless money for it. We always talk about it.
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"I really don't understand it. And it's everybody. You, fans... everybody talks about it. 'We need another player'. They all cost money. It must be the right player. Tell me a club that wants to sell a top, top centre-half?"
You can watch that clip in full below.
When asked about Matip's injury, Klopp added: "When the doctor comes in and says: ‘It doesn’t look great’ … but we have to wait for the scans and the scan isn’t here yet.
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“You can imagine it doesn’t look great. It is never good news [when a doctor says that immediately]. I’ve never had that in all my years where someone says: ‘Oh my God, it’s completely wrong and there’s nothing wrong, he can play tomorrow.’ It doesn’t happen.”
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Featured Image Credit: Hayters TV/XTopics: Jurgen Klopp, Premier League, Liverpool, Liverpool Transfer News & Rumours, Joel Matip