Jurgen Klopp hails 'super' Joel Matip performance after Michail Antonio display

Jurgen Klopp praised Joel Matip's handling of Michail Antonio in Sunday's 3-1 win over West Ham.

Matip was a surprise starter ahead of Ibrahima Konate, whose minutes are being managed upon his return from injury and the 32-year-old put in an impressive performance at centre back.

The former Schalke star largely shackled the threat of West Ham front man Antonio, who had talked up his side's chances at Anfield earlier in the week.

Antonio, along with the rest of West Ham's attack, found his chances very limited, with Matip winning his duels and not allowing his opponent any space.

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Speaking in his post match press conference, Klopp paid tribute to Matip's ability to stop the 'chaos'.

“Joel Matip [had] a super performance against Antonio,” Klopp said. “It’s a key moment in the game. They chip the ball there and I don’t know how often in the past we suffered when he could control the ball.

“Today he had it once or twice and immediately the chaos starts. [Matip] did that really well.”

Potential contract extension

Matip, who joined Liverpool in 2016, is into the final year of his contract.

While many had reported that his deal would not be renewed and that he would leave as a free agent next summer, Football Insider now claim that the centre back could yet be offered an extension, if he accepts a reduced role.

While the report concedes that talks are 'not at an advanced stage yet', Klopp is keen to keep Matip around as experienced backup.

Speaking recently about his future, Matip seemed to indicate that he would be happy to end his career at Anfield.

He said: “I try to make the most of every day and don’t look too far ahead. If in the end it was just these two clubs [Schalke and Liverpool], I would be perfectly happy. But in football you never know for sure.

"At a club like Liverpool, competition is part of the game. Of course I’m happy that I managed to hold my own for such a long time. Of course, you have to show something every now and then – otherwise you won’t have the opportunity to stay that long. We have so much quality and so many games that you inevitably end up on the bench – that’s normal. And I’m also happy to have such good colleagues in central defence."