FeatureQuality, trophies and viral moments: Why we love Joel Matip

The defender became a much-admired figure in his eight seasons at Anfield for the role he played in such a successful period and his unique personality.

Here are five reasons why we love Matip...

He's a brilliant footballer

"Have you ever seen a better free transfer than Joel Matip?" A question Jürgen Klopp put to the media on Friday.

Matip completed a switch from Schalke in the summer of 2016 and would go on to develop into a 'world-class centre-half', according to the Liverpool manager.

That is some return on investment.

His quality at the back and never-fussed temperament saw him help the Reds scale the heights of club football.

Matip's honours include the Champions League, Premier League, UEFA Super Cup, Emirates FA Cup, Carabao Cup (twice) and FA Community Shield.

On an individual level, he was voted Premier League Player of the Month in February 2022. What spoke volumes was the way his teammates reacted to that news.

"It was similar to the celebrations after the Carabao Cup [final], to be honest," Klopp revealed. "It was really cool.

"Joel is a very, very famous figure in the group, in the team. He obviously gets not a lot of headlines... but if somebody should have won it then I think it really makes sense that for once it is Joel."

In total, Matip made 201 appearances for the club and wasn't afraid to chip in with the odd goal, scoring 11 times.

His assist in Madrid

Matip's personal journey during Liverpool's triumphant Champions League run in 2018-19 went from devastating blow to incredible high.

Back in the December, while his teammates were celebrating a 1-0 win over Napoli to progress from the group stage, Matip was down on the deck with what turned out to be a fractured collarbone.

The injury, sustained in the closing seconds of that game, would sideline him for a little more than a month in a packed part of the season.

Matip returned and was crucial at the back end of a campaign that saw Liverpool push for glory domestically and in Europe.

He appeared in all but one of the Reds' Champions League knockout ties, including the iconic comeback versus Barcelona in the semi-final.

But Matip saved his best moment for the final in Madrid with Tottenham Hotspur.

His first assist in a Liverpool shirt – a lovely deft touch inside the penalty area – allowed Divock Origi to make it 2-0 with three minutes of the 90 remaining, virtually sealing European Cup No.6.

And Matip being Matip, he hasn't even re-watched it.

"For me, not a big deal," he reasoned. "Divock did it brilliant and I didn't really do a lot."

His iconic UEFA Super Cup celebration

Matip's contribution at Estadio Metropolitano helped confirm Liverpool's spot in the Super Cup final with Chelsea in Istanbul.

Heroics from Adrian in the penalty shootout led to more joy for Klopp's side – but the night was also the birth of Joel Matip, the internet sensation.

As Jordan Henderson raised the trophy, Matip was in the background, a beaming smile on his face and pumping both hands in the air.

He went viral, and so did No Context Joel Matip.

That goal v Leeds

He had threatened to do it so many times, and it finally happened on Wednesday February 23, 2022.

Matip's comfort on the ball would see him regularly and effortlessly carry possession up the pitch. His line-breaking adventures often took him into the opposition 18-yard box.

Against Leeds United at Anfield in a 6-0 win, he found the prize at the end of the road at long last.

Liverpool's No.32 ventured forward, laid off to Mohamed Salah, received it back inside the area and finished with the calmness of his Egyptian teammate.

He reacted: "I am happy that after a few tries, the ball finally goes in!"

A glorious moment that was well worth the wait.

Moments with the fans

The mild-mannered Matip would transform whenever he got on the scoresheet.

Often scoring with a thumping header, the defender tended to explode with joy and passion, heading straight towards Reds in the stands.

His reaction to a last-minute winner against AFC Ajax in September 2022 will forever be remembered by those who shared it with him that night.

On that bond, he declared: "There are so many Liverpool supporters around the world that you just feel how big the club is and how many people love the club in their own special way.

"You just feel part of a really special thing."