Paul Merson has written in The Daily Star that Kalvin Phillips, who joined Manchester City from Leeds United in the summer transfer window, would have been a good signing for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
However, the former Arsenal star does not think that Philips would have been a game-charger for Liverpool.
The Sky Sports pundit believes that the England international midfielder would have made Liverpool’s squad better.
Merson made the comments about the 26-year-old while discussing the options in midfield for Liverpool manager Klopp.
As reported by Sky Sports earlier this month, Premier League champions Manchester City paid Leeds an initial transfer fee of £42 million for Phillips.
Liverpool were linked with a move for Phillips before his transfer to City.
The Sunday Mirror (5/6; page 73) reported that Liverpool were going to try to sign Phillips from Leeds after missing out on Aurelien Tchouameni to Real Madrid and were reportedly planning to make a move for the England international midfielder.
Paul Merson on Kalvin Phillips and Liverpool
Merson wrote about Philips in The Daily Star: “I know they wanted Kalvin Phillips and missed out on him when he want to Manchester City. But I don’t think he would have been a game changer for Liverpool.
“There has been plenty of hype around Phillips for a while now, and Liverpool would have had a better squad if he’d gone there. But I don’t think he would have added the kind of quality they need.
“You have to remember, Liverpool have an unbelievable goalkeeper in Alisson who makes big saves in games. They have an unbelievable centre back in Virgil Van Dijk. And they have three or four unbelievable forwards.
“But they all played virtually every single game it was possible to play last season. They are not going to be able to do that again.”
Good player
In our view, Kalvin Phillips is a very good midfielder and would have made Liverpool a better team in the middle of the park.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola would not have signed Phillips if he did not think that the Englishman is good enough for his team.
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