Liverpool suffer fresh injury blow with Joel Matip out for the season

Liverpool have confirmed that Joel Matip is set to undergo a thigh operation which is expected to sideline him for the rest of the campaign.

The 26-year-old completed the full 90 minutes in the 2-1 win over Crystal Palace last weekend, but shortly after, the Cameroonian was identified to have sustained a thigh injury.

In an official club report, the Reds confirmed that the player requires a medical procedure to correct the problem, and this leaves the club with just two senior centre-backs with Ragnar Klavan and Joe Gomez nursing injuries of his own.

A statement on the Liverpool website read: "Matip was able to complete the full 90 minutes of the fixture, but afterwards medical assessment on the thigh revealed surgery is expected to be required to correct the problem. The operation is likely to end the 26-year-old's involvement in the remainder of the 2017-18 season."

In Matip's absence, Lovren will be expected to partner Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence when they entertain Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-final first-leg on Wednesday.

Liverpool also have other issues to deal with prior to the City game with midfield duo Adam Lallana and Emre Can also expected to be ruled out for the European meeting.