'The one and only Joel Matip!' - Why Liverpool loves its goalscoring, dribbling, social-media superstar

There could hardly have been a more popular match-winner. As the Kop roared and as Jurgen Klopp punched the air on the sideline, Liverpool’s players mobbed their hero.

“The one and only Joel Matip!” as Virgil van Dijk put it afterwards.

He’s already a firm favourite with supporters, and even more so now, after his 89th-minute header secured a tense, hard-fought 2-1 win over Ajax in the Champions League at Anfield on Tuesday night.

Given the way the Reds’ season has started, it could well prove to be the most important goal Matip has scored for the club.

In any case, it all adds to the legend. Teammates and fans love him, and no wonder.

They have plenty of reasons to…