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Joel Matip insists he's ready to put the agony of last season behind him as the Liverpool defender fights for a starting role.

The former Cameron international was forced to sit and watch the Reds' thrilling run to the Champions League final after a thigh injury suffered against Crystal Palace derailed his campaign.

Matip underwent surgery in early April but he's now fit again and keen to re-establish himself in Jurgen Klopp's side.

“Nobody wants to see big games from the stand as a player,” he said.

(Image: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

“It’s not the best part if you’re injured and have to look but it belongs to players' lives.

“I’m on a good way now. The fitness is not at 100% but I’m not the only player who needs this time.

“This is preparation to get a good fitness level and I feel self-confident.

“I hope there will be more finals to play in. Of course these are the goals. We want to achieve something.

(Image: Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images For AUDI)

“We will see how the seasons starts but we have to be there from the beginning. A lot of things are possible if we start well.”

In Matip's absence, Dejan Lovren and Virgil van Dijk formed a commanding centre-back partnership.

With Ragnar Klavan and Joe Gomez also around, the ex-Schalke defender knows that competition for places will be tough in 2018/19.

However, with Lovren not reporting back for club duty until August 6 and unlikely to feature in the Premier League opener against West Ham, the tour of America gives Matip the chance to prove he should start the campaign alongside Van Dijk.

“We have a really big and high-quality squad,” he added.

“This will help us through the season because we have a lot of games and injuries belong to the game so some players will always be missing.

“It’s good if another player can come directly in without losing that much quality.

“Dejan did great at the World Cup. He went to the final so that speaks for itself. We have a lot of self confidence. I also have no doubt about my quality.

“The new signings have made a great look from the beginning and they will help us this season.”