LIVE
...

Follow us on

News

TBR View: 23-year-old almost left Liverpool in summer, now he has a huge chance

Liverpool reportedly decided to keep Nathaniel Phillips at Anfield in the summer in order to provide themselves with cover at centre-back despite interest from Championship clubs – and Phillips may now have his best chance to get game time.

Phillips, 23, joined Liverpool four years ago from Bolton and has entered the final 12 months of his contract. In that time, he has played just once for the Reds – going on loan to Stuttgart last season where he helped them gain promotion.

that four Championship clubs wanted to sign Phillips towards the end of the domestic deadline, with Nottingham Forest, Reading, Swansea and Bristol City all interested in a loan move for the centre-back.

However, Liverpool chose to keep Phillips last week in order to add cover to the senior side. Phillips may have been somewhat frustrated at that decision, given he has played 24 senior matches throughout his career at the age of 23.

Blackburn Rovers v Liverpool - Pre-Season Friendly
(Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)

With his contract soon to end, a loan would have seen Phillips place himself in the shop window. So keeping him may have frustrated the defender – but now, he may have changed his mind, after Virgil van Dijk’s long-term injury.

It leaves the Reds with just Joe Gomez and Joel Matip as first-team options. Sepp van der Berg remains a rookie, so Phillips could now be turned to in the Cups and perhaps even in Europe. He may finally get a chance to prove his worth at Liverpool.

Phillips certainly did well in the 1-0 FA Cup win over Everton last season. Though he may have been frustrated at the reported decision to keep him as cover, Phillips will now be excited at the renewed chance of game time in a Liverpool shirt.

Everton v Liverpool: Premier League 2
(Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)