Joel Matip's wife makes 'home' claim as Liverpool legend returns to Anfield

• Liverpool FC News
• Features
• Joël Matip

Liverpool star Joel Matip makes a triumphant return to Anfield for the first time since leaving the club in 2024, while his wife Larissa refers to the city as 'home'

Joel Matip's family returned to Anfield for the first time since he left the club in 2024(Image: Larissa.Matip/Instagram)

Joel Matip's wife Larissa referred to Anfield as "home" as the pair returned for the first time since the defender left Liverpool almost two years ago.

The Matip family was a guest of the Reds' captain for the game against Tottenham on Sunday. It was the first time the Cameroonian defender was spotted at the club since he hung up his boots at 33.

"It's wonderful to be back here, to be back here in the stadium, to hopefully see a wonderful game," Matip told club media channels. "Yeah, I'm really looking forward to it. He's a wonderful guy and a wonderful player and it's a pleasure to be here to see him play again." His appearance came after James Milner named Matip as the most underrated player he's played with.

"There's nothing special to update!" he added on what he has been up to since retiring. "I'm just enjoying time with the family."

Larissa shared a number of pictures of her family's trip to Anfield. The images show the pair's son watching the team warm up before he walked out with Van Dijk. In the caption she wrote: "What a weekend. It was so lovely to be home."

Matip made 201 appearances for Liverpool from 2016-2024, capturing five major trophies, including the Premier League and Champions League. He famously assisted Divock Origi in the 2019 Champions League final against Tottenham in Madrid.

Injuries restricted Matip to just nine appearances during Liverpool’s 2019/20 league title-winning season, which ended the club’s 30-year wait for the Premier League crown.

He departed Liverpool at the close of the 2023/24 campaign alongside Jurgen Klopp, with his final season cut short by an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Matip retired in October 2024.

Joel Matip's son walked out with Virgil van Dijk on the family's return to Anfield(Image: Larissa.Matip/Instagram)

The Cameroonian defender was also spotted earlier this season at one of his former clubs, Schalke 04.

However Matip's return won't have been quite what he hoped. Spurs seemed on course for a seventh straight defeat across all competitions — and a fifth under Igor Tudor — after Dominik Szoboszlai’s 18th-minute free-kick gave Liverpool the lead.

However, Richarlison had troubled Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker throughout the match, creating several dangerous chances before finally converting a Randal Kolo Muani pass in the 90th minute to equalize.

The late goal was a blow for Liverpool, who had looked poised to return to the Premier League’s top four following defeats for Chelsea and Aston Villa.

Former Red Jamie Carragher didn’t hold back in his post-match critique of Liverpool, calling its display “an awful performance.” He pointed to the team’s lack of intensity and cohesion, arguing that the Reds struggled in crucial areas and fell far short of the high standards expected at Anfield.