Joel Matip on return to action, Blackpool comeback and new season
Liverpool's comeback against Blackpool was a good example of learning in pre-season, explained Joel Matip after the 7-2 win at Anfield.
The Premier League champions found themselves two goals down to the League One side 33 minutes into Saturday’s match as Christopher Hamilton and Jerry Yates (penalty) struck at the Kop end.
But Matip halved the deficit before the interval and Jürgen Klopp’s team were much improved in the second period, netting six times to seal an ultimately comprehensive victory – and the defender expects the experience to be beneficial.
Watch: Liverpool 7-2 Blackpool in 90 seconds
“It was nice to be back on the pitch and to be directly back in the stadium. I’m looking forward to the season,” Matip, who made his first appearance since sustaining a foot injury in June, told Liverpoolfc.com.
“Of course, they started quite well and made us some problems, but that’s the thing about pre-season – you have to learn about things in the game. In the second half especially, we made it much better.
“You can learn from every game and every situation, even if you have not the perfect start. You always can come back.”
Takumi Minamino followed up his maiden goal for the club in last weekend’s FA Community Shield with the fifth of the Reds’ seven on the afternoon.
Matip feels the back-to-back strikes from the Japan international are just reward for the work he has been putting in throughout this preparation period.
“I think everybody is happy for him because he is the whole time working that much and now he has the success also in the games with some goals,” said the No.32. “I hope he continues like this.”
Liverpool now have another week to get ready for the 2020-21 Premier League campaign, with newly-promoted Leeds United the visitors to Anfield next Saturday evening.
Matip added: “It was a special pre-season but this was [the same] for every team. We have to deal with it and do our best out of it.”