Liverpool may yet lose a cult figure this month.
Nat Phillips was an unlikely hero for Liverpool last season following an injury crisis which ravaged Jurgen Klopp’s outfit.
With Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all sidelined for the second half of the campaign, Phillips stepped up in a massive way and for that, he’ll always be remembered fondly by the Anfield faithful.
However, this season he has barely kicked a ball for the Reds because not only are those three central defenders fit again, but Ibrahima Konate also joined last summer.
Earlier in January there was speculation about Phillips wanting to leave Merseyside in search of regular first-team football.
And Sky Sports intimated on Wednesday that Liverpool expect the 24-year-old powerhouse to leave.
Rhys Williams was recalled from a season-long loan at Swansea City last week and Sky claim that decision was taken in the belief that Phillips would be leaving, with Klopp intending to use Williams as a covering centre-back.
If he goes, the German manager will be disappointed.
After a commanding performance in a victory at Manchester United toward the end of last season, Klopp described the Bolton-born stalwart as ‘absolutely insane‘ and although a departure is necessary, it’ll still no doubt sadden the Liverpool boss.
The good news is that Phillips deserves first-team football.
His display in a Champions League win at AC Milan during the first half of the campaign illustrates that he’d be good enough for most Premier League outfits, just not the Merseysiders.
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