Joel Matip: Liverpool icon's best moments at Anfield

“Have you ever seen a better free transfer than Joel Matip?” enthused Jurgen Klopp a few months before his and Matip’s Liverpool departure.

The gangly Cameroon international arrived at Liverpool in 2016 for absolutely zilch, an exceptional piece of recruitment from Klopp and his scouts after Matip had sparkled in Germany with Schalke.

Matip arrived on Merseyside to little fanfare but quickly established himself as not only an excellent centre-back, but a much-loved cult hero. Whether it be his odd gait, bromance with Virgil van Dijk or astonishing on-field success, he was adored by the Anfield faithful.

He won the lot with Liverpool and was a transformative figure as Klopp’s side became English, European and world champions.

Following his retirement from football, let’s take a look at Matip’s best moments with Liverpool.

It took Matip three years to provide his first assist for Liverpool, but it was well worth the wait. In the closing stages of a tense Champions League final against Tottenham Hotspur, the Reds found themselves a goal to the good thanks to Mohamed Salah’s early penalty.

However, Divock Origi would provide a clinching second in the dying minutes, with Matip popping up with the most important assist of his career. It wasn’t a searching 50-yard pass in behind or an incisive through ball, but a deft touch into the path of Liverpool’s Belgian made the difference.

It was a first trophy with Liverpool for Matip but certainly not the last.

Few footballers are less scary than Matip. The defender’s infectious smile, slim build and amenable personality made him a fan favourite for a reason, but even the most composed professionals lose their head from time to time.

Matip lost his cool during a heated moment in a fiery Merseyside derby in October 2020. Richarlison’s late lunge, which resulted in a red card, infuriated the former Schalke defender, who strode with venom towards referee Michael Oliver.

However, Matip inadvertently conjured up Basil Fawlty with his hilarious angry walk.

Matip quickly became known for his marauding and mazy runs from defence into the opposition final third, but it’s fair to say that not many of them resulted in glory. However, on his umpteenth attempt, the centre-back finally scored a beautifully taken goal against Leeds United in a 6-0 demolition at Anfield.

Matip burst forward from the halfway line and played a delightful one-two with Salah, showing immense composure to lift his finish over the outstretched body of Illan Meslier. Persistence certainly pays off.

Liverpool’s 6-0 thrashing of Leeds marked a remarkable February in 2022, with Matip taking centre stage. The defender featured in every minute of the Reds’ four Premier League matches, conceding just once, grabbing a lovely goal against the Whites and even managing an assist for Diogo Jota.

As a result, Matip achieved what few centre-backs do by winning the Premier League Player of the Month award, becoming the first Cameroonian player to claim the prize. He even beat former Tottenham Hotspur sharpshooter Harry Kane to the award.

The end of the 2023/24 season was emotional for Liverpool supporters, with the immensely successful Klopp era coming to an end. Naturally, the German manager was the focus on the final day of the campaign, but it was also the end of the journey for Matip on Merseyside.

Matip was given a warm send-off by the Anfield faithful, leaving Liverpool with an impressive trophy cabinet. The defender won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup, adding to a DFB Pokal won with Schalke in 2010/11.

Free transfers really don’t come better than Matip.

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