Footage has emerged of Joel Matip visiting a hospital, suggesting the Liverpool’s centre-back may have suffered an injury over the weekend.

The Reds are already suffering a defensive crisis after Virgil van Dijk was ruled out for most of the season with cruciate ligament damage, following a tackle on him by Jordan Pickford on Saturday.

It means Matip and Joe Gomez are the only recognised, experienced centre-backs at Jurgen Klopp’s disposal, ahead of a relentless run of fixtures.

A video posted by @exLFCemployee03 on Twitter on Monday shows Matip entering a hospital, however, which is sure to strike fear into Liverpool supporters.

The Cameroonian has been an injury-prone figure for the Reds since joining from Schalke in 2016, but they desperately need him to stay fit for a sustained period now.

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It is worth stressing that there is no proof that the footage is brand-new, although the fact that Matip is in a mask, and the weather looks autumnal, does suggest it is recent.

The hope is that he was simply visiting someone, or undergoing a routine check-up, rather than facing yet another spell out of the side.

Matip played well in the 2-2 draw at Everton on Saturday, and looks more in-form than Joe Gomez currently.

He is going to be a big player in the absence of Van Dijk, marshalling the troops alongside Gomez or Fabinho, with the latter doing well in defence in the past.

Is Matip Liverpool's most important centre-back after Van Dijk?

Yes

No