Joel Matip is struggling with a muscle injury, but it is not serious and he could still be fit to face Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Liverpool have been plunged into something of a defensive crisis after Virgil van Dijk suffered a serious knee injury in the Merseyside derby on Saturday.
The Dutchman has torn his Anterior Cruciate Ligament after a wild challenger from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and will be out for the majority of the season as a result.
After Dejan Lovren left the club in the summer, this leaves just Joel Matip and Joe Gomez as recognised centre-backs, although midfielder Fabinho has proved to be a reliable campaigner in the middle of defence as well.
Fears over Matip’s fitness arose after he was sent for a scan on Saturday, but the injury is not a bad one and he should be available this week.
The Athletic reported: ‘Joel Matip underwent a scan on Saturday after complaining of discomfort in a leg muscle after the derby.
‘Nothing major but will continue to be assessed ahead of Ajax away in the CL on Wednesday night.’
The Reds go to Ajax on Wednesday, before hosting Sheffield United on Saturday in the Premier League.
They then have home games against FC Midtyjlland in the Champions League and West Ham in the Premier League the following Tuesday and Saturday.
Matip and Gomez will be expected to hold the fort at the back, with Gomez returning to the side after being dropped for the Everton clash and replacing Van Dijk after he suffered the injury.
Matip has been in and out of the Liverpool starting XI since joining from Schalke in
2016, only starting eight Premier League games last season and 17 in 2018-19.
He was in the team at the back end of the 2018-19 season, though, and started the Champions League final win over Spurs.
