Matip fires warning shot

Posted Tuesday, September 27, 2016 by Foxsports.com

Liverpool defender Joel Matip believes the Reds' Premier League opponents should be afraid of Jurgen Klopp's side, after the Merseysiders made a fine start to season.

Matip joined Liverpool from German side Schalke on a free transfer in the off-season and been in impressive form for his new side. Following Saturday's 5-1 demolition of Hull at Anfield, the Cameroonian defender feels the Reds will be a force to be reckoned with this term.

"They always have to be afraid that we are coming," Matip told the Liverpool Echo.

"(We need) To play as a team and to have a great spirit together.

"We have to continue to play this way and make the most of all our fixtures at Anfield. Our aim is to keep improving week by week.

"A solid defence always helps to win games and it is always necessary for a good team.

"We have to improve but we know this.

"We will work hard towards getting better and keeping clean sheets because sometimes we may only be able to score one goal and we want that to be enough to win.

"Beyond that it is too early to make predictions. We will see what the season brings because there is a long time between now and May.

"We have to continue to play this way and make the most of all our fixtures at Anfield. Our aim is to keep improving week by week."

Matip helped Schalke, the club for he made his professional debut in 2009, to a fifth-placed finish in the Bundesliga and has seemingly made the transition to English football with ease.

"I have watched a lot of Premier League games and a lot of Liverpool matches and knew that playing in this league was what I wanted to do because there are a lot of big clubs and great players and it was always a good league to see," the lanky centre-back added.

"There is so much competition in this league – no other country has the same level of competition. I knew that it would be an honour to play against these players and hopefully it will help make me become a better player."

Liverpool travel to the Liberty Stadium for a match against struggling Swansea next, before hosting Manchester United at Anfield on October 17.