Nathan Philipps and Rhys Williams have been tipped for a crucial role for the Reds in the ongoing season, according to Jurgen Klopp, with the Liverpool FC boss having to deal with a lack of depth at centre-back options following Virgil van Dijk’s long-term injury.
The Dutch international’s withdrawal off the pitch at Goodison Park last week has turned into an injury nightmare for the Premier League champions, with the 29-year old Van Dijk’s confirmed ACL diagnosis meaning that the defender could be set to miss the remainder of the 2020-21 campaign.
With options at the heart of the backline already short for Klopp’s side, having lost Dejan Lovren to Zenit this summer, and no further signings to bolster the defensive options, the German coach will be inclined to call upon the services of youngsters at his disposal, namely Phillips and Williams, the latter making his mark in the recent Champions League win away at Ajax.
“It’s a nice story,” said Klopp about Williams’ cameo at the Johan Cruyff Arena to Liverpool FC’s official website. “I saw it in his eyes after the game that he was pretty impressed by that occasion.
“He is a big talent, not only physically big but is a real talent. It is nice to have him around.
“With our situation, we have Nat Phillips here as well and Billy the kid and they are really around.
“Nat Phillips we thought would be transferred, but at the last second, it didn’t happen.
“We already brought him back from Stuttgart for one game last season against Everton in which he did really well.
“These are solutions for us, and help us a lot. The boys are great, and it is a big opportunity for them.”
Many big centre-back names across Europe continue to be linked with a move to Anfield in the forthcoming winter transfer window, with Ben White emerging as a frontrunner to become Liverpool FC’s latest recruit in January.
