Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp could not help, but laugh when asked about Nathaniel Phillips’ brilliant turn against AC Milan last night on BT Sport.
Phillips on fire
Phillips has not had a great deal of first-team football this season, but he looked fully match sharp for Liverpool yesterday.
The centre-back was put under pressure by two AC Milan forwards inside the San Siro, but he was a step ahead.
Phillips pulled off a simply wonderful turn inside his own box, which left both Milan players stranded.
It was a quite wonderful piece of skill, and BT’s pitch-side reporter spotted exactly what Klopp did as it happened.
“I noticed you turned to your coaching staff when Nat Phillips turned inside the box,” he said. “Did you afford yourself a smile after that moment?”
“Situation of the game man,” Klopp laughed. “He played an outstanding game. It’s really ridiculous.”
Continuing to impress
Phillips has continued to never let Liverpool down whenever he has been picked.
The towering centre-back may not have a long-term future at Anfield, with speculation increasing that he could depart in January.
But if he does leave Liverpool now he will do so with a great reputation among the club’s fan-base.
Phillips was never expected to have such a big role for the Reds last season as he did, after injuries struck.
He has since been forced out of the team as the likes of Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk have returned.
But Phillips is showing that he is more than capable of featuring regularly, even at the highest level, and his performance last night deserved great praise.
Liverpool’s win over Milan means that they qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League with maximum points.
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