JOÊL MATIP: EX-LIVERPOOL DEFENDER RETIRES FROM FOOTBALL

Joël Matip was a part of the Liverpool side that lifted the Champions League and Premier League titles. Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

 Former Cameroon and Liverpool defender Joël Matip has retired from football aged 33, the Merseyside club confirmed in a statement on Saturday.

After joining Liverpool on a free transfer in 2016, Matip spent eight years at Anfield, all of which came under Jürgen Klopp.

During his spell, he won the Champions League in 2019 and Premier League title in 2020, as well as the FA Cup and two Carabao Cups.

His last appearance for the club came against Sheffield United last year, where he suffered an ACL injury.

"Matip and supporters said farewell to one another at Anfield on the final day of last season, ahead of the expiry of his contract, and he has now confirmed that his playing career has reached a conclusion," Liverpool said in a statement on Saturday.

The centre-back also made 27 international appearances for Cameroon, featuring for the country at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.

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LIVERPOOL'S DEPTH MAKES THEM FA CUP AND PREMIER LEAGUE FAVES

It was truly a team effort in Liverpool's 2-0 win over Arsenal in the FA Cup as manager Jurgen Klopp was missing several preferred starters, but the players available stepped up. Julian Finney/Getty Images

 LONDON -- Liverpool's 2-0 win at Arsenal to advance deeper into the FA Cup was impressive enough, but if you consider the rollcall of players who weren't involved at the Emirates, it gives an indication of just why the Reds are serious contenders in four competitions this season.

The irreplaceable Mohamed Salah had already departed for Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt prior to this third-round FA Cup tie, and midfielder Wataru Endo has also signed off for at least a month to join Japan's attempt to win the Asian Cup. But Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was also without Virgil van Dijk, Joël Matip, Andy Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas, Thiago Alcantara, Dominik Szoboszlai and Stefan Bajcetic due to injury or illness.

Yet, despite that list of absentees, Liverpool were still able to book their place into the fourth round because of the sheer depth of Klopp's squad.

Managers only tend to talk about injuries and the impact they have on a team when their sides lose -- it's a useful excuse to suggest that prospects of winning are diminished when key players aren't available. But that kind of deflection tactic doesn't really work when a side like Liverpool can travel to Arsenal -- the FA Cup's most successful-ever club -- and win without so many crucial players.

This was a big test for Klopp and his players, with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta making only limited changes to his first-choice team, but they came through it.

And with a growing fixture list ahead -- which includes the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Europa League, as well as the challenge of fending off the threat of champions Manchester City at the top of the Premier League -- Liverpool showed that they can ride out the storm of injury, illness and international tournaments to keep their foot on the pedal in all four competitions.