Thiago and Matip to leave Liverpool at end of season

Midfielder Thiago Alcantara and defender Joel Matip will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, the club have confirmed.

Former Spain international Thiago, 33, joined Liverpool from Bayern Munich in 2020 and made 98 appearances during his time at Anfield.

Matip, 32, has played 201 times and scored 11 goals for Liverpool since his arrival from Schalke in 2016.

The pair have experienced limited playing time this season because of injuries.

Centre-back Matip has not featured for the Reds since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) against Fulham in December.

After missing the first six months of the season with a hip issue, former Barcelona player Thiago returned to action in February against Arsenal but experienced a muscle problem during his brief appearance which has since kept him on the sidelines.

“It has been eight wonderful years here in Liverpool,” Matip said.

“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."

Th ex-Cameroon international was a part of the Liverpool side that won the Champions League in 2019, setting up Divock Origi for the second goal as they beat Tottenham in the final.

Matip then lifted the Premier League the following year - the club's first top-flight title in 30 years.

Liverpool manager Jurgen 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."

German Klopp will also leave after their final game of the season, against Wolves at Anfield on Sunday.

Source: BBC