OPINION
With Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp facing centre-back problems after a multiple of injuries – namely to Joe Gomez and Joel Matip – the German should look towards fielding Nat Phillips as an option.
The 21-year-old was certainly the surprise package during pre-season when he was given the chance to show what he could do, and now he has the perfect opportunity to do that again in the absences of Gomez and Matip.
This is why Klopp must boldly start the youngster alongside Virgil van Dijk in the centre of defence, having already shown that he can partner the Dutchman rather well in the summer.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is a gleaming example of what can happen when a young player is slowly introduced to the first team, which reinforces even further why Phillips should start at the weekend.
He is impressive for his age and his ability to head the ball well would certainly go down well with Klopp, and even though this may be viewed as a risk by many – especially against one of the Premier League’s top sides – it is certainly a risk worth taking.
What has Klopp got to lose at the moment? Two of his centre-backs are on the sidelines for six weeks and he is in dire need of some quality cover in the position.
This is the ideal opportunity to get Phillips some of the first team experience he needs in order to start making strides in his career, and what better way to do that than throwing him in at the deep end on Sunday.
He will no doubt be out of his depth to begin with if the manager chooses to select him in the starting XI, but this will make him a better player in the long-run.
Who knows, the hot prospect may even make a case for regular starts.
