Liverpool coach says Klopp has a ‘fantastic young man’ in his ranks, but he isn’t using him

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Nat Phillips asked Liverpool if he could turn out for the Reds’ Under-21s in their 4-1 EFL Trophy defeat at Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday night, according to the Liverpool Echo.

The defender sought to feature in the development squad as an overage player after failing to feature under Jurgen Klopp. The German has only named Phillips on the bench four times so far this season across all competitions.

Klopp also overlooked Phillips when naming his changed Liverpool XI to face Norwich City in the Carabao Cup last month. With the 24-year-old last featuring in a competitive first-team fixture on the final day of last term.

Phillips had enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Anfield last season as Liverpool dealt with a wealth of injuries at centre-back. He made 20 of his total 21 senior Reds appearances so far in 2020/21, while scoring and assisting once.

But as Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip are fit, plus the arrival of Ibrahima Konate, Klopp has had no need for Phillips in any of Liverpool’s early fixtures this season. So, the former Bolton prospect sought to face Wanderers on Tuesday to get the motor running.

Lewtas reflects on Phillips’ U21s Liverpool outing

Phillips impressed Liverpool’s academy coach Barry Lewtas with his performance for the U21s against Bolton on Tuesday, despite the result. Defeat leaves the Reds’ development side bottom of Group D, while Wanderers opened a three-point lead over Rochdale in first.

“The first-team staff spoke to us and said Nat was keen to play,” Lewtas explained, via the Liverpool Echo. “The group is here for that as well, to give lads minutes. We have had a massive amount of games as a lot of our lads played in the UEFA Youth League as well.

“When did I last coach Nat? It may have been Under-14s at Bolton, so it was like the old days! He is a fantastic young man and for him to come in, and train with us properly for the last few days, it’s great to have him around.”

Liverpool face Port Vale in their final EFL Trophy group stage fixture and Phillips will hope he does not need to feature again. But it may take more than facing Bolton to work his way back into Klopp’s first-team plans anytime soon.