Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool unlikely to buy centre-back to cover for Joel Matip

The defender is facing a long spell on the sidelines. 

Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool will make do with four centre-backs while Joel Matip is injured (Dave Thompson/PA)

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is not planning to buy a centre-back to cover Joel Matip’s expected absence for the rest of the season but admits the nature of the Premier League means all clubs are “only two injuries away from a real problem”.

Matip’s anterior cruciate ligament injury means Klopp now has five senior players unavailable – Diogo Jota, Andy Robertson, Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic – with midfielder Alexis Mac Allister doubtful for the weekend trip to Crystal Palace after sustaining a problem in the midweek win over Sheffield United.