He was also offered a scholarship to play in the United States at the University of North Carolina but turned that down to sign for the Reds instead.
Do you think he should have taken that opportunity???
He played well yesterday and deserves all the praise but I think he would not come close to VVD or the potential that Gomez can become. However, he might make a very good option for the Lovren-ish 4th CB option if he decides he wants to do that or until he finds a good option to play first team football elsewhere. Klopp himself would be honest that Philips would never probably be first choice for us but yesterday, he showed that he can be a decent option when we run out of them.
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So youāre basing your view on his composure and passing ability on just one game then? Hopefully heāll improve your opinion of his ability in these respects the more you see of him.
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Yes because heās hardly ever played for us.
Did anyone else notice Nat yesterday organising the defence and telling Gomez many times where to pass the ball. Nat Van Phillips.
He plays in the Premier League for the League Champions earning thousands of pounds a week. I think thatās a bit better than a scholarship to an American University.
His story is quite something though. Had to cancel his flight to NC because of our last minute call.
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Im not sure heās even 5th choice given that Williams has been picked ahead of him all season up until now. But that raises an interesting issue with Klopp and the way he deals with the kids. If you go back 12 month most people would have thought Hoever was the next kid in line for a shot at RB. Yet Neco got in head of him. This season the other Williams came in from no where to be given a shot over other better known young CBs. And then when an opportunity presented itself for a Premier League start Klopp turned to one of the other kids. Im not sure what to make of it other than Klopp having faith in all of the players involved in the first team set up.
Rhys got the chance because Billy was in isolation and Nat was injured, Nat was available yesterday and he gets the nod, Billy is back in training now so will he get a chance?
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Nat was also unavailable to play in the CL because we expected to sell him and so didnāt register him - leading to Williams playing.
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Yeah Phillips is ahead of Williams in the league as heād been on our bench before despite Williams being available. Use Phillips in the league which is more physical and teams are more likely to go for aerial attacks and Williams in Europe where teams are more likely to try and play intricate football and officials give more protection from rough and tumble tactics. Almost seems to have happened by accident but it works out perfect. Well not as perfect as VvD not being injured in the first place or at least Matip not being made of quavers would have been but anywayā¦
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Played well. Miles better than Joe? They play in tandem. Sum of the parts etc.
Love the way Joe can step into midfield with the ball ala Alan Hansen. Heās a bit weak aerially but thatās where Nat Van Dijk comes in. Thought they complemented each other well.
Who cares who is better than who and at what. We support LFC the team. Everyone who contributes to LFC winning is fine by me.
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The Athletic:
Phillips came even closer to walking through the exit door. The Athletic understands he was on the brink of a move to Swansea City ahead of the deadline for domestic transfers in mid-October. Liverpool had even given him the green light to agree personal terms with the Championship club.
The 23-year-old had been targeted as a replacement for Wales international Joe Rodon, who was ultimately sold to Tottenham Hotspur for an initial Ā£11 million.
However, on a frenetic day, Swansea ended up signing centre-backs Ryan Bennett from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Joel Latibeaudiere from Manchester City instead. The Liverpool hierarchy were less than impressed by how the Welsh club conducted themselves and messed Phillips around.
The Bolton-born centre-back had also attracted second-division interest from the likes of Middlesbrough, Nottingham Forest, Bristol City, Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers, but Liverpool would only sanction a permanent deal rather than a loan.
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Well some good performances here might at least let him get to a better caliber club in the premier league even if heās not being looked at as a serious option for Liverpool in the long term.
Heās English , Heās a tall steady CB. Not too slow too and can play with a high backline. Worse CBās than him have had transfer fees of 40-80M.
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Especially Ā£80m 
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Need to be careful we donāt go overboard about this lad. He had a very good game but was playing against a team that adopted an aerial approach which suited him and had very little attacking ambition. If heās lining up against City at the weekend I will be shitting myself.
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Particularly if they come at him with pace, which they will given theyāll be playing Sterling and Torres up front again.
City offer less of an aerial threat so quite possible we go with something a bit different (like Gini and Gomez). Klopp does like to switch things up a bit and this might make sense.
Could get Shaqiri into the game as wellā¦
Alisson
Trent Gini Gomez Robertson
Henderson
Shaqiri Thiago
ManƩ Salah Jota
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Matip by the sounds of it will probably be available.
Another very good performance today and probably man of the match, no nonsense defender boot it away and head it clear, well done Nat. 
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