Rio Ferdinand has claimed he would be “fuming” if he was Joel Matip after the defender was named on the bench for Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final against Villarreal.
Jurgen Klopp named three changes from the side that defeated Everton in the Merseyside derby at the weekend. Jordan Henderson replaced Naby Keita in midfield, while Luis Diaz took Diogo Jota’s place in Liverpool’s frontline.
However, it was the decision to pick Ibrahima Konate ahead of Joel Matip that sparked a reaction from Ferdinand . Speaking on BT Sport, the former Manchester United defender insisted that he would be unhappy with Klopp, if he had been overlooked for such a crucial clash after an impressive campaign.
“If I am Joel Matip, I am fuming,” Ferdinand said. “He has been exceptional all season and we talk about being the best defenders on form in the league, he would be in there for a shout after (Virgil) Van Dijk, so yeah set-pieces must be a big thing for his team selection this evening.”
Konate has been regularly trusted by the Liverpool boss in the Champions League, having started six of the club’s last seven games in the competition. The defender also showcased his goal threat in the quarter-final tie with Benfica, scoring in each leg as Liverpool progressed to the final four.
Former Reds striker and Ferdinand’s fellow BT pundit Peter Crouch agreed that Konate’s attacking presence at set pieces could have been a factor in Klopp’s team selection. However, despite Ferdinand’s protests, the ex-England defender did admit that the club’s ability to call upon Konate demonstrated the strength of Liverpool’s squad.
“I think the most impressive thing for me is the way he has been able to utilise his squad,” he continued. “Just shuffling the back at any given time, and those players are coming in and impacting the team.
“They are playing big roles in that, (Ibrahima) Konate is a good example for that. He has come in and scored goal after goal, and as a manager it is a dream scenario at the business end of the season.”
