Klopp: Joel Matip won't go to Africa Cup of Nations

Jurgen Klopp has quickly banished rumours of Joel Matip contemplating travelling with Cameroon for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, saying Matip will continue to be a calming presence in the Liverpool defence over January and February.

"We actually had this talk a few weeks ago already, so I was not surprised (by the news)," Klopp told Friday's press conference. "Of course, I am happy about this, there is no doubt, but the players make these decisions by themselves - there is nothing the club can do.

"For Joel it is different because he has grown up in Germany and all that stuff, so that's different - that's always different and there are a few players like this - and so he decided this for himself and that is good for us."

This news counteracts suggestions that Cameroon manager Hugo Broos had only met with Matip last week in a bid to get him to reconsider his international exile - which began in 2015 - to play in the showpiece in Gabon. If the 25-year-old did indeed hear Broos' pleas, he was unmoved.

Since joining Liverpool as a free agent in the summer after his FC Schalke 04 contract expired, Matip has fit seamlessly into a defence that had been struggling to field a reliable centre-half after Sami Hyypia left in 2009 and Jamie Carragher's legs started to show the signs of age. The Bochum-born defender has played 12 competitive matches - none of which the Reds lost - and the club's two league losses came in his absence as six goals were conceded.

Klopp insists his side can lean on other defensive options, though.

"Joel is a wonderful player but Luc(as Leiva), Dejan (Lovren), Ragnar (Klavan), and Joe Gomez in the future again, they are really good football players and they will do a wonderful job for Liverpool - and they have done already. If you want to judge finally these players then do it, I won't do this."

Liverpool welcomes struggling West Ham United to Anfield on Sunday.