admitted if he was Joel Matip he’d be fuming at being dropped for tonight’s semi-final.
Liverpool ran out 2-0 winners over Villarreal at Anfield in the first leg courtesy of goals from Jordan Henderson and in the second half.
One major talking point in the lead up to kick off was ’s decision to drop Matip for Ibrahima Konate alongside Virgil van Dijk in defence.
Matip has started 27 matches in the Premier League this season but the pair have shared duties in European competition.
‘If I am Joel Matip, I am fuming,’ Ferdinand said on BT Sport before kick-off.
‘He has been exceptional all season and we talk about being the best defenders on form in the league, he would be in there for a shout after (Virgil) Van Dijk.
‘So yeah set-pieces must be a big thing for his team selection this evening.
‘I think the most impressive thing for me is the way [Klopp] has been able to utilise his squad.
‘Just shuffling the back at any given time, and those players are coming in and impacting the team.
‘They are playing big roles in that, Konate is a good example for that, he has come in and scored goal after goal, and as a manager it is a dream scenario at the business end of the season.’
Konate had scored in each of his three previous appearances ahead of tonight’s match and former Reds striker Michael Owen believes that also had a part to play in Klopp’s selection.
He said: ‘It is a Champions League semi-final so of course you are going to play your best team, but I think Matip all season has been number one all season, but I think the goals that Konate has scored in the past few games, he does add something different.’
Konate has now played 23 matches for Liverpool and is yet to lose any of them.
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