Jurgen Klopp took a jokey swipe at Joel Matip's second touch, two weeks before the centre back suffered an ACL injury which will force him out of the rest of Liverpool's season

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp took a cruel but jovial swipe at Joel Matip's second touch during a Sky Sports promotional video filmed before his ACL injury. 

The 32-year-old centre back has been a cornerstone of success for the Reds since joining in 2016, but an ACL injury picked up earlier this month means he will probably miss the remainder of the 2023-24 season. 

But a week and a half before he picked up his injury, Klopp raved about the Cameroonian international's first touch - before quickly taking a pot-shot at Matip's follow-up.

The pair were taking part in a Sky Sports YouTube video which the broadcaster stressed was filmed on November 22, ahead of Matip's injury, which was picked up in the Reds' 4-3 win over Fulham on December 3.

 Klopp and Matip tried to identify a professional footballer from a group of five, using a series of drills to try and eliminate the fakers.

On the 'first touch' challenge, Klopp said: 'Joel in this moment has a really good first touch.'

But the German gaffer followed it up with the body blow. 'The second touch is then the problem,' he said, laughing.

As the manager, player and presenter were chuckling over the slight, Matip said: 'But what I'm gonna do with the ball then?' 

Klopp's Reds are currently stretched in defence following Matip's latest injury setback, with the defender starting nine of Liverpool's 15 Premier League games this season before he picked up the injury at Anfield against Fulham. 

Mail Sport has previously reported that Maxence Lacroix, Lloyd Kelly and Perr Schuurs are among potential options if Liverpool look to replace Matip on the open market. 

Meanwhile, young Liverpool player Jarrell Quansah was bold in his ambition to replace Matip during the injury-enforced absence. 

After scoring in the Europa League on Thursday, the 20-year-old said: 'It's a shame what happened to Joel and my condolences go with him but my idea was to try and get over him anyway and try to be a starting centre-back in the Premier League at the end of the day.'

Matip's Liverpool contract expires at the end of the season, which increases Quansah's chances of potentially making a name for himself as a long-term option, as well as a short-term fixture. 

Klopp said the centre-back would be 'supported' by the club through his injury, and hinted at the possibility of a contract extension. 

The injury blow adds to a mounting injury crisis at Liverpool, with several other names currently on the sidelines, or working their way back to full fitness.