Joel Matip is one of the most loved Liverpool players when it comes to the fans.Not only is the Reds defender one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League, but he's also not afraid to show his personality with idiosyncratic moments that see him go viral on a regular basis.Besides, it's no secret that there are entire Twitter accounts dedicated to out of context Matip videos, which even Liverpool players get involved with, where he seems to be living his best life.

Liverpool fans' love for Matip

He really is a player that will always have a special place in Liverpool fans' hearts, so there's always a special atmosphere when he pops up with a rare goal.

Naturally, scoring headers from corners is the usual method for Matip just as it is for any centre-back, but the Cameroonian showed against Leeds United that he's got more than that in his locker.

That's because Matip showed that his courageous and ambitious runs from the back four can actually lead to goals as he finally pulled it off during the mid-week Premier League clash.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Leeds United - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 23, 2022 Liverpool's Joel Matip celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Peter Powell EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Matip scores from courageous run

While we'd love to say that Matip went on a Diego Maradona-like run from his own penalty area, there was a little help from Mohamed Salah - who scored two spot-kick in the first-half - along the way.

But that doesn't make Matip's 50-yard run any less epic with Liverpool fans proceeding to go wild across social media as he glided from end of the attacking half to the other with just one pass en route.

Besides, even with Salah stepping up to provide the assist, Matip still carved straight through Leeds' midfield and defence in a way that made the goal just so entertaining to watch. Check it out below:

You love to see it.

A crucial goal for Liverpool

Fans always love it when a player who doesn't find the net very often pops up with a random goal, so it's not surprising that Kopites went even more wild on Twitter when you consider that it was Matip.

After all, coming into the game, Matip only boasted six goals from his 151 appearances in the famous red jersey and you can rest assured that none of them could lay a glove on his Leeds strike.

But regardless of both the circumstances and Matip's status amongst online Liverpool FC culture, it proved to be a crucial goal for Liverpool either way as they continue their pursuit of Manchester City.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Leeds United - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 23, 2022 Liverpool's Joel Matip celebrates scoring their second goal with Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz REUTERS/Peter Powell EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

The Reds can't afford to drop any Premier League points between now and the end of the season, so Matip doubling their advantage against Leeds was a huge step in the right direction for another three points.

And when Liverpool's centre-backs are carving through entire teams, then you've got to say that it's at least ever so slightly possible that they'll hunt down City with just as much gusto as Matip's runs.