Liverpool star Joel Matip remains a doubt for Merseyside derby, Jurgen Klopp explains the risks

Liverpool defender Joel Matip remains a doubt for Monday's Merseyside derby against Everton. Matip has enjoyed a superb start to life in English football having immediately become a key figure in Jurgen Klopp's starting XI following his summer arrival from Schalke.

The 25-year-old started and completed 11 Premier League matches between August and November but an ankle injury suffered prior to their meeting with Bournemouth earlier this month halted that run. Liverpool lost that match at Dean Court 4-3 in his absence.

Matip returned for the 2-2 draw with West Ham last Sunday but failed to make the squad again on Wednesday, missing the victory over Burnley with another knock.

Jurgen Klopp is holding off on making a decision on the centre-half but admits the club may choose not to risk bringing him back too soon.

"Joel is again a little bit different," Klopp told a press conference. "We did not make a final decision about how we handle it because he had this problem for two or three weeks.

"It's a little bit of an ankle problem, it's not a real injury but it's painful and we cannot push him through, that's the situation. "So now we have to see if we try it against Everton or if we give him a few days and try against Stoke or another few days and try against Manchester City.

"I don't know in this moment. He did parts of the training before the Middlesbrough game but in the end he said, 'I cannot sprint' so it makes no sense [to use him]. We are in really intense conversations about this and we haven't decided."

Doubts also linger over Daniel Sturridge. The England international has missed the club's last five meetings with a calf injury and has still not returned to full first-team training.

"It is a maybe. He is close to team training. It is possible we could work with him today or tomorrow."

Reports this week have also suggested Emre Can may be an injury doubt for Monday's clash at Goodison Park due to a knee injury. Klopp was able to play down those concerns, however, telling reporters: "He is in a good way."

"It was a strange injury, I had never heard of this ligament but when it's injured, it's injured. It settled quite well and quick and yesterday he felt no pain. He has had not that long a break so if he is ready to train today or tomorrow then we will involve him."