Joel Matip facing lengthy spell out with knee injury

Joel Matip is set for several months on the sidelines after suffering knee ligament damage, according to a report.

The centre back had to be replaced by Ibrahima Konate during the second half of Liverpool's 4-3 win over Fulham on Sunday, while Jurgen Klopp admitted the injury didn't look good in the immediate aftermath of the game.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Wednesday's meeting with Sheffield United, Klopp claimed to be still waiting on a scan to reveal the true extent of the damage to Matip's knee when asked for an update on the former Cameroon international's status.

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“I don’t know exactly but it doesn’t look good, that’s something we can say,” Klopp told reporters.

“The scan is not done yet so we don’t know exactly, but it’s not great. From the first second it was clear, we spoke to him and said, ‘No, that’s not good.’

“But how long, I don’t know.”

While no exact timeline has yet been predicted, The Guardian report that Klopp is 'resigned to losing the experienced centre-half for a lengthy period' as a result of a knee ligament injury.

Matip's absence will put more strain on Liverpool's backline, with first-choice left back Andy Robertson already out until the start of next year.

The 32-year-old Matip, who is in the final year of his contract at Anfield, has started nine Premier League games so far this season.

Meanwhile, Alisson is another Liverpool player who will miss Wednesday's trip to Bramall Lane, but is expected to recover from his hamstring issue before the meeting with Manchester United on 17 December.

Diogo Jota – who Klopp confirmed was running again – is another definite absentee for the midweek clash, along with Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara.