Jurgen Klopp is adamant that Nat Phillips and Neco Williams have not played their last game for Liverpool despite being sent on loan in January.
The defensive duo moved to Bournemouth and Fulham respectively with both clubs expected to figure prominently when it comes to the battle of promotion from the Championship to the Premier League.
With the pair unlikely to play much first team football for the Reds in the second half of the season, the decision to move them to those clubs could be something of a masterstroke as they will be regularly playing in fixtures with plenty of pressure attached which will undoubtedly make them better footballers in the long run.
There is a prevailing view that once Klopp sends a player on loan, it is a clear sign that their time at Liverpool is at a end.
The only recent exception to the rule has been Harvey Elliott who went to Blackburn to get more first team experience where he excelled which in turn saw him come back to the club and go straight into the first team before injury saw his progression halted.
While Phillips and Williams are highly unlikely to have a easy passage to the Liverpool first team if they do return, in his programme notes ahead of the FA Cup clash with Cardiff today, Klopp has given the duo some clear hope to cling onto.
“Nat Phillips and Neco Williams will be battling for promotion from the Championship between now and May. Magnificent opportunity for both. And both Bournemouth and Fulham are very fortunate to get these two outstanding young men.
“Their Liverpool stories are not over – they are merely on pause – so I don’t want my words to feel like a farewell. But both these players have made a massive contribution to our club in recent seasons.
"The way they were day to day made us better collectively. When they played they produced the goods. I couldn’t be more grateful towards them both and I hope they show all their talent and quality in the coming days, weeks and months.
The perfect scenario would be if both Bournemouth and Fulham claimed automatic promotion as Klopp alluded to.
“When I looked at the Championship table I noticed they are pretty close together at the top. Fingers crossed both Nat and Neco will be celebrating promotion come May. They are two boys who deserve success.”
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