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Klopp hints at last-minute signing after Matip suffers ligament damage

Tottenham Hotspur FC / Getty

If Liverpool didn't have an emergency before, they certainly do now.

Manager Jurgen Klopp said the club is looking for the "right player" after revealing center-back Joel Matip suffered ankle ligament damage during Thursday's 3-1 win over Tottenham.

Matip, who missed 20 games last season with a knee injury, exited at halftime.

Fabinho was also unavailable due to a minor muscle issue. The Brazilian has filled in at center-back since Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez suffered serious knee injuries.

"You can imagine that we think about everything," Klopp said. "We talk the whole time. We think the whole time. It's about doing the right thing. I'm not picky or whatever. ... But we need to find the right player.

"We have players still. Not a lot, to be honest, in the defensive line. It's incredible what's happening there. Really incredible."

Liverpool's stance appears to have changed since the beginning of the month. On Jan. 7, Klopp said it was "unlikely" the club would dip into the market for another defender because of the current economic climate.

The Reds have still been linked with Schalke's Ozan Kabak, Napoli's Nikola Maksimovic, and RB Leipzig's Dayot Upamecano.

The Merseyside outfit spent a reported £70 million over the summer on Konstantinos Tsimikas, Thiago Alcantara, and Diogo Jota. Each has missed time with injuries this season.

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