Mark Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp should not include Nathaniel Phillips or Rhys Williams in the starting lineup against Manchester City.
The Liverpool legend believes that the Premier League game against City is too big for the two young central defenders.
Williams started for the Reds against Atalanta in the Champions League in midweek, while Phillips did well on his Premier League debut against West Ham United last weekend.
However, Lawrenson, who now works as a pundit for BBC Sport, believes that if Joel Matip is fit, then the experienced centre-back should start alongside Joe Gomez.
Lawrenson wrote on BBC Sport: “At the back, if Joel Matip is fit I would pair him with Joe Gomez. Nathaniel Phillips and Rhys Williams have done well – against West Ham and Atalanta respectively – but this is a very different game, with far more pressure involved and against a much better side.”
Sensible suggestion
Williams is only 19 years of age, and while the defender has played thrice in the Champions League, he has yet to feature in the Premier League for Liverpool, according to WhoScored.
As for Phillips, the 23-year-old central defender made his league debut only last weekend.
Gomez has been a regular in Liverpool’s first-team squad for a while, and Matip is a very good centre-back, and Klopp should go with his experienced players against a strong City team.
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