The Cameroonian defender appeared for the Reds for the first time in almost three months in almost three months
Joel Matip has said he is pleased to return after scoring a goal for himself in Liverpool’s 7-2 win over Blackpool on Saturday.
The 29-year-old was incapacitated for much of the 2019-20 season due to various injury issues and only played 13 times in all competitions, nine of which were in the Premier League, which the Reds emphatically won with 18 points when the Reds’ closest challengers Manchester City.
After playing 73 minutes of goalless draw against Merseyside rivals Everton when the league restarted, Matip was unable to perform due to a foot injury.
The Cameroon international scored just one goal when he beat Arsenal 3-1 at Anfield.
In the friendly on Saturday, Blackpool took a 2-0 lead in the first half before Matip halved the deficit a few minutes before the break.
Senegalese strikers Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Harvey Elliot, Takumi Minamino, Divock Origi and Sepp van den Berg all had their names on the match report as the Reds took full control of the second half.
“It was nice to be back on the pitch and right back in the stadium. I’m looking forward to the season, ”said Matip to the club website.
“Of course they started off pretty well and made some problems, but that’s the thing about preseason – you have to learn about things in the game. We did a lot better, especially in the second half.
“You can learn from every game and every situation, even if you don’t have the perfect start. You can always come back. “
Matip has been in the red half of Merseyside since February 2016 after receiving a free transfer from Bundesliga team Schalke 04. He has played 111 competitive games, scored five goals and provided one assist.
Liverpool had previously played two preparation games against VfB Stuttgart and Red Bull Salzburg, the first of which ended in a 3-0 win while the second ended 2-2. In between was the Community Shield against Arsenal, which the Gunners won 5-4 on penalties after ending 1-1 in regular time.
Jürgen Klopp’s men will start their Premier League season at home with Leeds United on Saturday.
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