Liverpool confirm successful ACL surgery for Joel Matip

The ex-Cameroon international made his ninth Premier League start of the season in the 4-3 victory over the Cottagers at Anfield, but his afternoon was cut short with 69 minutes on the clock.

Speaking straight after the game, head coach Jurgen Klopp admitted that Matip's injury appeared serious, and scans showed that the former Schalke 04 man had suffered a total ACL rupture.

Ten days after sustaining the injury, Liverpool have now announced that the defender has undergone a successful operation and will now embark on the long road to recovery.

"Liverpool defender Joel Matip has undergone successful surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament injury he sustained earlier this month," a statement on liverpoolfc.com read.

"The No.32 was forced off in the second half of the Reds' Premier League clash with Fulham at Anfield and subsequent scans confirmed an ACL rupture.

"A successful operation has now been completed and Matip will continue his rehabilitation programme at the AXA Training Centre. No timescale is currently being placed on his recovery."

While Liverpool have not pencilled in a potential return date for Matip, it would be a shock to see the 32-year-old play again this season, and his contract at Anfield only runs until the end of the season.

Should Matip's situation not change between now and the end of June, the centre-back may have played his final game for Liverpool ahead of his exit as a free agent, but Klopp has hinted that he wants the Cameroonian to be offered a new contract.

With Matip sidelined for the long-term, Ibrahima Konate is set to win his place back alongside Virgil van Dijk, having only started six Premier League games this season amid his own fitness concerns.

Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah - who was named in the first XI for Saturday's Premier League win over Crystal Palace - are alternative options, while defensive midfielder Wataru Endo has also played as a centre-back during his career.

News of Matip's devastating injury sparked speculation that Liverpool could try to sign a new centre-back in the January transfer window, rumours which Klopp has downplayed due to Quansah's breakthrough.

However, it has also been suggested that Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips could be recalled from their loan spells at Aberdeen and Celtic respectively in January, as neither player has made the grade in Scotland since their summer moves.

Williams has not made a single senior appearance for Aberdeen, while Phillips has played eight times for Celtic but has only made the starting lineup on three occasions in the Scottish Premiership.

Liverpool are back in action on Thursday for their final Europa League Group E clash with Union SG, and Klopp has left a handful of notable names out of his 23-man squad for the trip to Belgium.