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Joel Matip believes his centre-back partnership with Dejan Lovren will flourish after his commanding Liverpool debut in the 5-0 EFL Cup rout of Burton.

The Cameroon international defender shone on his competitive bow for the Reds at the Pirelli Stadium and is expected to keep his place for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Tottenham.

“I enjoyed playing alongside Dejan,” Matip told the ECHO.

“He’s a very good player. I hope we can have a good partnership together.

“I think there’s a good understanding there already. At times he covered me, at other times I covered him.

“We played together at the start of the pre-season so I think it will be good.”

Matip ended his 16-year association with Schalke when he signed for Liverpool on a free transfer this summer.

The 25-year-old endured a difficult start as pain in his right foot - linked to having some screws removed back in May - kept him out for three weeks in pre-season.

Watch: James Pearce on Burton 0 Liverpool 5

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He wasn’t able to play any part in the matches on the tour of America and fellow new boy Ragnar Klavan was picked ahead of him for the opening two Premier League matches.

However, Matip is now fit and firing and relished helping Jurgen Klopp’s side book their passage into the third round of the EFL Cup.

“It was great to play after the time I spent out with the injury,” he said.

“I needed that time in pre-season so it was frustrating for me. I hope that topic with my foot is finished now. It’s much better.

“I played 90 minutes with no problems and that’s a good sign for me. I need some time to get to 100% but I am getting there.”

Matip believes Liverpool’s dominant display against the Championship outfit was the perfect response to last weekend’s poor league defeat to Burnley.

It was the first time the Reds had kept a clean sheet on their travels since the Europa League tie away to Augsburg in February.

“We still have to improve some things but it was important to win after what happened at Burnley,” Matip said.

“There’s a lot of attacking quality in this squad and it’s nice to see this with Divock (Origi), Daniel (Sturridge) and Roberto (Firmino) all scoring.

“Defenders never like conceding goals and the clean sheet was pleasing. But we still need to improve our defensive qualitiies.

“Now we need to build on this result. Tottenham are a great team but we also have many qualities. It will be a great game.”