Jurgen Klopp has admitted his surprise that Nat Phillips wasn’t able to stop Manchester City’s third goal against Liverpool last night.
The centre-back failed to reach a cross from Kevin De Bruyne, with Nathan Ake arriving behind him to head in. And, speaking to LFCTV after the game, Klopp said the goal was ‘completely unnecessary.’
“The goals we conceded were all compeltely unnecessary. When you see the third goal, we changed before [Milner coming off for Phillips], but not directly before, which gives a bit of new organisation, but then we watch the ball in that moment and that’s not possible,” the manager fumed.
“They played a short corner. Yes Nate, we all expect him to win that, to get to that header but behind him there’s absolutely nobody apart from two City players. So, again, the goals we conceded were absolutely unnecessary.”
Phillips back in the shop window?
This may sound slightly harsh from Klopp, but it’s actually a compliment to Phillips. It isn’t that he’s blaming him for the goal. In fact, it could be argued that the 25-year-old was the only Liverpool player in the right position.
Instead, the manager is simply stating how highly he rates Phillips’ aerial prowess.
It isn’t a secret that Nat is an exceptional header of the ball. In the end, the delivery from De Bruyne was just too good. Perhaps a little touch in the back from Aymeric Laporte contributed, too.
There was no excuse for Phillips’ Liverpool teammates not picking up the back post, though. There’s no way that the centre-back should have been the furthest man back.
Had Ake not nodded in, then there was another City player right behind him who gladly would have. In a game as tight as last night, that’s unforgivable.
Still, it’s worth pointing out that Phillips came in and largely did well. One magnificent tackle on Erling Haaland was the standout, but he generally looked comfortable against top-level opposition.
It’s a feather in his cap that Haaland wasn’t able to add to his tally since the £10m-rated defender entered the pitch.
It remains to be seen whether Liverpool will look to move Phillips along when the January window opens. He may not have covered himself in glory for Ake’s goal, but he still sent a reminder of what he can do at this level.
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