In a move that could give birth to more talk over their future at Anfield beyond this summer, Nat Phillips and Xherdan Shaqiri were not a part of the Liverpool squad that faced Osasuna in their final fixture of the pre-season camp.
Phillips has been constantly linked with a move away from Merseyside in this summer’s transfer window with a four-way contest underway between Brighton, Burnley, Newcastle United and south coast outfit Southampton to sign the central defender.
Shaqiri too has been backed to call it quits at Anfield before the transfer window slams shut as the Swiss international hopes to seal a move elsewhere to get regular minutes on the football pitch.
No Xherdan Shaqiri or Nat Phillips in the Liverpool squad tonight. Both have been strongly linked with moves away.
Nothing imminent, I'm told, but certainly a sense that something will happen, and club have decided not to take the risk with those two tonight. #LFC
— Neil Jones (@neiljonesgoal) August 9, 2021
Goal’s reporter Neil Jones claimed that despite no imminent move away from Anfield on the cards for the duo, their absence for Monday’s pre-season game suggests that Liverpool are not taking any chances over their fitness situation.
Liverpool are hoping to receive bids north of £10 million for both Phillips and Shaqiri with the latter being eyed up French outfit Lyon who have some concerns on the pricing front.
