Thiago Alcantara and Joel Matip will depart Liverpool at the end of the season, joining manager Jurgen Klopp as the club’s exodus continues.
Alcantara and Matip are ready for a new phase in their respective careers, and they will be leaving Merseyside with mixed feelings.
Thiago Alcantara joined Liverpool from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2020, making 98 appearances for the English side.
Matip Won More Trophies With The Reds Than Alcantara
Joel Matip was the more accomplished of the two players at Anfield, as he won the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, and FIFA Club World Cup with the Reds.
The 32-year-old has made 201 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 11 goals since he joined the team from Schalke in 2016.
The duo have battled through injuries this campaign, and this has resulted in their playing time being reduced.
Matip, who features as a center-back for Liverpool, has not played for the Reds since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) against Fulham in December 2023.
For Alcantara, after being absent for the first six months of the campaign with a hip problem, he returned to action in February 2024, featuring in their league game against Arsenal.
However, the midfielder experienced a muscle problem during his minor appearance which has since kept him in the treatment room.
Moreover, speaking on his departure from the club, Joel Matip said: “It has been eight wonderful years here in Liverpool.
“I was allowed to be part of an exciting history with a great coach and an astonishing team in an extraordinary club. We have achieved great titles and have the best fans in the world.”
Jurgen Klopp also had great words to say about the defender, expressing that so far in his career, he hasn’t seen any player more loved than Matip.
Klopp said: “In all the years that I have been involved in football, I am not sure I have come across too many players who are more loved than Joel Matip.
“I’m not even sure it would be possible to say anything bad about him.”
Jurgen Klopp will also be leaving Liverpool at the end of the campaign, after the Reds’ home clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday, May 19, 2024.
Did Thiago Alcantara and Joel Matip Win Any Trophy Together At Liverpool?
Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara won the 2022 FA Cup and EFL Cup together. They also have the opportunity to win a quadruple.
Unfortunately for Liverpool, they lost the league title by a point to Manchester City, while also being defeated in the UEFA Champions League final by Real Madrid.
Thiago Alcantara also touched on his time with the Merseyside-based club, writing in a lengthy statement on social media that reads: “Appreciation and gratitude – they are two words that come to mind on the day I have to say goodbye to all of you, Reds.”
Manager Jurgen Klopp also lauded the Spaniard, whilst also pointing towards the niggling injuries that affected the midfielder’s time at the club.
Klopp said: “Before he even came to Liverpool I believed that if you really love football it would make a lot of sense if you watched Thiago Alcantara play.
“I know injuries have been a frustration for him and also for us but the level that he was able to play at when he was available was incredible. This is what I will remember.”
Liverpool will say goodbye to these beloved trio – Jurgen Klopp, Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara, in what will certainly be an emotional scene at Anfield, with teary eyes expected to be seen on Sunday, May 19.
