Liverpool Fans Rally Around Joel Matip After Late Own Goal

Liverpool’s match against Tottenham on September 30th, 2023 was a game that will live long in the memory of fans. With Liverpool set to hold out for a point against Tottenham, Joel Matip gifted the win to the hosts with a late own goal. Usually, a late own goal to lose a match would see the guilty player come in for criticism. However, Liverpool supporters have been quick to rally around Matip, acknowledging the team’s brilliant performance to even reach injury time level, despite having just nine men.

Jurgen Klopp’s Reaction

Jurgen Klopp had a similar reaction, telling Sky Sports: “In the end it looks a little bit like destiny, somebody had to put their foot there and that was Joel [Matip]. He defended outstandingly well today and then he goes and the ball goes in the goal, and that’s unlucky and that’s now not a nice outcome. I really think we would have deserved the point but we didn’t get the point but I heard about worse things in life.”

Support From Teammates

Alisson could be seen consoling Matip after the goal, and the 32-year-old’s centre-back partner, Virgil van Dijk, had sympathy also. “I know it’s difficult as a central defender,” Van Dijk told BBC Sport. “If the ball is crossing with an ugly bounce, it’s always difficult to clear it. It went in and unfortunately that can happen. He’s fine, he’s a good friend of mine and I know he will be fine.”

Support From Fans

Supporters also voiced their support for Matip online, largely blaming the officiating for Liverpool’s defeat rather than the Reds’ defending. Graeme Kelly tweeted: “I put zero blame on Matip or any of our players. They did us proud and were magnificent. #LFC” Jim Boardman added: “Tired legs, tired body, tired mind, Matip shouldn’t get an ounce of criticism for that. Spurs get three undeserved points. Liverpool will probably get a fine for all the bookings. PGMOL will carry on doing what they do best and we’ll still be told this is the greatest league…”

Abigail Rudkin echoed these sentiments in her tweet: “I have absolutely no complaints about any of the players there today, not even Matip. That result is purely down to the terrible officiating. Every player left on that pitch fought right to the end.”

Gags Tandon also showed his support for Matip: “No one should hate on Matip for that. This Liverpool team are the real deal. That is the worst luck I’ve seen in 40 years of following this club in a single game. Spurs actually didn’t deserve it.”

Dinesh Kumar summed up the feelings of many Liverpool fans: “So so unlucky tonight. Feel for Matip too, last kick to do that but he was fantastic, as was the rest of the team. Robbed by the officials. That point could, and should have been massive, hard to take.”

Conclusion

The defeat to Tottenham was a hard pill to swallow for Liverpool fans, but they have been quick to rally around Joel Matip and show their support for him after his late own goal. Despite the defeat, Liverpool supporters remain confident that their team are still capable of challenging for silverware this season.