Joel Matip is likely to be given a tough welcome back to life in the Premier League on Sunday when Liverpool host West Ham United.

But the defender insists the challenge of seeing off the threat of the Hammers' physical forward line is one he will relish.

Slaven Bilic was recently handed an injury boost in the form of the return of imposing striker Andy Carroll, a man whose aerial capabilities Reds are more than familiar with.

The West Ham boss also boasts Michail Antonio in his squad, the player who holds the joint record for headed Premier League goals in a calendar year, having scored 11 in 2016 so far.

But Matip, who is hoping to come back into the starting XI today after overcoming an ankle injury, is prepared for what he might face.

"There are a lot of players that are this way, they play a more direct way and it’s special," he told Liverpoolfc.com.

"It’s a challenge as a defender. It doesn’t have to always be like this but I don’t have any problems with this kind of player. 

"It’s always a special challenge and of course I’m looking forward to it. 

"But like the games before, I won’t just play against one player, we will do it together. We defend and attack together."

The Reds suffered just their second defeat of the season last week as they went down to a 4-3 defeat at the hands of Bournemouth.

And Matip says he has seen even more focus than usual in training this week as he and his teammates set their sights on quickly bouncing back.

"We will try to show a reaction and try to win. We will do our best and give all that we have," he added.

"We were working the whole week concentrated and giving everything to handle the game on Sunday. We will prepare so we can get this three points."

Sunday's game marks the start of the typically packed festive fixture list, which will see Liverpool play six games in just over three weeks.

For Matip, who is used to a winter break having played his entire career in Germany until this summer, this will be a new experience.

But it is one the giant centre-back is looking forward to.

"We are looking from game to game, it doesn’t matter how often we play, we always want to score, always want to win, and now we’re looking to West Ham," he explained.

"It will be a special situation for me, I never had this before and I hope it will all work. We will see!

"It’s a lot of games in a short time but I knew this before and I’m looking forward to it."