Joel Matip vows to improve his game for Liverpool

Liverpool defender Joel Matip has vowed to improve his game in the coming Premier League season.

The 25-year-old joined the Reds from Schalke 04 last summer and made 32 appearances in all competitions, 29 of which were in the top flight.

Matip, a Cameroon international, told the Liverpool Echo: "Last season was not the worst one but I think I can still improve a lot and I will improve a lot. I need time for this.

"I get help from everybody and I will use this to get better. You always need a little bit of time to adapt to a new league. You need some time to know your teammates and understand them without saying something. I'm not 35 so I hope I still can improve.

"I'm working on my fitness but I have no problems, no pain. I'm on a good way. I hope that this time I stay fit a bit longer. I want to improve for myself, not for other people. I will improve, but I don't know what the club will do. That's not my area. I only focus on the things I can change."

Matip's Liverpool contract runs until June 2020.