I got pelters suggesting after the Man U game that he could be long term cover for Gomez as 3rd/4th choice CB.
Bolton Baresi indeed 
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Fuck me - you’re still going redbj lad? Welcome to the new joint
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Think that ranking is perfect imo. Rhys needs a loan but that was the case anyways imo if we didn’t get all those injuries. Need to save that 18m for a new CM or ST
He had a good game, but he still made a lot of errors initially. I still think it isn’t enough to warrantee him an option as one of the 4 CBs especially if the two of them are Gomez and Matip. As a 5th choice it’s okay (which might no longer be okay for him personally). If one of those errors were punished today it would have been a different story. Also, Burnley are the kind of opposition that are perfect for his strengths, but not every team plays continuous hoofballs.
Don’t get me wrong, I am very happy for the lad and he has delivered way more than was expected from him. But still don’t think he can remain a mainstay in the side.
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4 choice though, if all things go well he’s only really play English cup games. Surely that’s enough rather than spending 18 mill on someone like Kabak that will only do similar. Then again suppose we could use Matip for that
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Rightly so, he’s nowhere near good enough for that provided we want to get back to our previous level.
He had a rubbish first half today, great second. Its a lovely story for him but he’s not at the level required if you compare his performances to Van Dijk or Matip.
Craig Dawson is doing a similar job for West Ham. Another nice story for a player of limited ability. But we’d be pissing ourselves if City bought him.
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For me Nat is perfect to have in games like this especially if you put him alongside VVD, the aerial bombardment would be nullified
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28/1 to get picked for England’s euro squad .
What are the odds Nat goes but Trent doesn’t somehow?
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Nat is a freaking legend.
Still not good enough
But he’s a legend
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I love this guy. What an attitude. It would have been natural to feel fizzy in these dizzying moments. But no, this lad has his feet firmly on the ground.
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Phillips, who has two years remaining on his contract, is a throwback; a defender who genuinely loves defending. He’s not afraid to put his body on the line and he challenges for every header like his life depends on the outcome.
Klopp and his staff have been increasingly impressed by his reading of the game, his positional play and his distribution. His capacity to take on board information has helped take him to the next level.
He’s always been a good learner, securing two As and a B in maths, geography and economics A-Levels at Bolton School before accepting a scholarship to play at the University of North Carolina. He never did board that flight to the US though, after Liverpool offered him a two-year contract following a successful trial in 2016.
Klopp loves his backstory and he loves his attitude. The manager sees himself in Phillips — someone with a football brain who is fully committed to draining every last drop out of their natural talent.
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Philips is a no nonsense defender with natural ability to read the game. What he might lack in pace he compensates with his game reading. His goal line clearance against Burnley, his clearance after Alison had scored against West Brom are just couple of examples. Hardly loses a header and the guy is high on confidence. His crucial goal against Burnley was not directly from a corner but from Mane picking up the second ball and driving in. He still stayed in the box because of his game reading skills which made the goal possible. Had he gone back to defend the opportunity is lost. He can only get better once he plays with Van Dyk and Matip.
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Ah yes, but could Klopp play in a Klopp team?
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Philips’s is an admirable and inspiring story. And this is just the first chapter. He is 24 and there’s hell lot of football to be played. And he should be playing regularly to build on this amazing breakthrough year.
With a new CB incoming and VVD, Gomez, and Matip returning, he will be hard-pressed to find enough games, a rather unfortunate injustice to this fine, young, lad. I’m reasonably sure that the forthcoming chapters of his life is written away from Anfield.
It’s a gamble, if I were him I would stay. Take up the mantle of 5th choice CB proudly.
Take each player individually
I fully expect Matip to recover from his latest injury, but fully expect him to get injured 2 or 3 times next season.
Gomez will probably have a slow recovery. Not sure if he will be fully fit for start of next season. I expect some time to recapture form. Would say once he gets fit there is. 50:50 chance there is a reoccurrence of injury or another major injury.
VvD I am more optimistic about but at the same time I think Klopp will be more cautious. I will be happy if VvD plays 75% of games. Maybe a 30% risk of another major injury.
Given that, I would stay. Even just to get the opportunity to actually play in front of 60,000 fans.
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