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Phillips: A move in January could be something I am interested in


TLW
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On 16/12/2021 at 03:10, TLW said:

Nat Phillips may well have played his last game for the club with the central defender stating that he is open to a move in the January transfer window.

 

Phillips won a place in the hearts of everyone associated with the club for his composed performances during the 2020/1 season when the team needed him the most due to a catalogue of injuries in the central defence position.

 

The defender became a cult figure among the fanbase in part due to his love of a clearing header and barely a game would go by without the defender having a bandaged head as a badge of honour from the 90 minute battle.

 

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But with Virgil Van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez returning to full fitness, it was clear that Phillips would have to be content with a lesser role for the Reds this season.

 

Because of this, many assumed that Phillips would move in the Summer with his stock at sky high levels.

 

 However despite links to Brighton, Newcastle and West Ham nothing eventuated.

 

To this point of the season, Phillips has made three appearances including a stellar outing AC Milan where he got the better of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

 

Unfortunately in the aftermath of that contest, he was diagnosed with a cracked cheekbone coming courtesy of a head clash when he was going up for one of his trademark headers and the injury will see him on the sidelines until the new year.

 

As he is beginning to flourish at the senior level, Phillips who recently signed a long term deal until 2025 would like to play more consistently and he admitted to Sky Sports News that a move could be on the cards.

 

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“The manager and I agree that the best thing for me is to play as many games as possible. I think you saw last year I developed well.

 

“I'm going to see what comes along [in January] and go from there. I think at this moment in time it's unlikely that I'll be playing lots of games for Liverpool, so if an opportunity arises where I get the chance to do that somewhere else and it suits everyone then it's certainly something I'd be interested in."

 

The defender says that the confidence of playing for one of the biggest clubs in world in incredibly challenging and unique circumstances will certainly serve him well for the next step.

 

“I've had the exposure and experience in the Premier League and the Champions League. So maybe those situations where you're new and nervy, I've gone through that phase.

 

"I don't need to go through that process if I do go somewhere else. I'll be ready straight away to get involved and play."

 

Teams in the battle for Premier League survival will certainly be on the lookout for reinforcements next month, but if a move was not to eventuate, Phillips would not get disheartened.

 

In fact he said training with quality players in the Reds squad is priceless for his own development.

 

“Not only defenders we have, but the attackers as well. If I'm holding my own in training against the strikers we have then it stands me in good stead.

 

"I can't complain. The standard in training improves me every day. If it wasn't to happen I would certainly still be living a happy life."

 

 

 

 

 

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Go on now, go into the ham, and take the carving knife and stab me, here, here, now, please! It would hurt me less than what you just said.

 

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19 hours ago, Strontium Dog™ said:

 

Congratulations on figuring out how a centre-back partnership functions.

 

Personally what I'll remember from the Milan game, other than an outrageously cool piece of skill which I'm still laughing about, is how a player frequently derided as Championship-level quality, and who hadn't started a match all season, nevertheless kept one of the greatest strikers of all time very quiet.

Good for you.

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11 hours ago, Joey8FrogsLegs said:


Van Dijk, Matip and Konate are miles better than the remaining CBs now. I’d say it’s close between Gomez and Phillips behind those three. Gomez has a higher ceiling, but the problem is he always needs a number of games to get back to his best. And he wont get those games unless one of the three gets a lengthy injury. Phillips on the other hand has his limitations, but just walks in and plays at his peak from the first game when called upon.

A good post in full.

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