Liverpool Football Club has officially announced that midfielder Thiago Alcantara and defender Joel Matip will depart from the club at the conclusion of the current season. The departure of these two stalwarts marks the end of their respective tenures at Anfield.
Thiago Alcantara, the former Spain international, joined Liverpool from Bayern Munich in 2020 and has since made 98 appearances for the club. Matip, on the other hand, has played 201 times for Liverpool since his arrival from Schalke in 2016. Both players have faced limited playing time this season due to recurring injuries.
Matip, who has been an integral part of Liverpool’s defense, expressed his gratitude for his time at the club, acknowledging the club’s rich history and passionate fan base. The ex-Cameroon international played a significant role in Liverpool’s success, contributing to their Champions League triumph in 2019 and their Premier League title win the following year.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp paid tribute to Matip, praising his contributions to the team and highlighting his popularity among fans. Klopp also acknowledged Thiago’s impact on the pitch, describing him as a player of immense talent despite his injury setbacks.
Both Matip and Thiago leave Liverpool with fond memories, having won the FA Cup and EFL Cup with the Reds in 2022. Despite their achievements, Liverpool missed out on major trophies during their tenure, narrowly losing the league title to Manchester City and falling short in the Champions League final against Real Madrid in 2022.
Thiago bid farewell to Liverpool and its supporters, expressing his appreciation for the “life-changing experience” he had at the club. Klopp echoed Thiago’s sentiments, emphasizing the midfielder’s remarkable talent and the impact he made whenever he took to the field.
“I was allowed to be part of an exciting history with a great coach and an astonishing team in an extraordinary club. We have achieved great titles and have the best fans in the world.”
Th ex-Cameroon international was a part of the Liverpool side that won the Champions League in 2019, setting up Divock Origi for the second goal as they beat Tottenham in the final.
Matip then lifted the Premier League the following year – the club’s first top-flight title in 30 years.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: “In all the years that I have been involved in football, I am not sure I have come across too many players who are more loved than Joel Matip.
“I’m not even sure it would be possible to say anything bad about him.”
German Klopp will also leave after their final game of the season, against Wolves at Anfield on Sunday.
‘We’ll miss you, Jurgen’
During that season Liverpool missed out on a quadruple, beaten to the league title by Manchester City by one point and losing the Champions League final against Real Madrid.
Thiago described his time at Liverpool as a “life-changing experience”.
“Appreciation and gratitude – they are two words that come to mind on the day I have to say goodbye to all of you, Reds,” he posted on social media.
Klopp said: “Before he even came to Liverpool I believed that if you really love football it would make a lot of sense if you watched Thiago Alcantara play.
“I know injuries have been a frustration for him and also for us but the level that he was able to play at when he was available was incredible. This is what I will remember.”
Source: BBC Sports
