OPINION
The life of a Liverpool academy player can be a double-edged sword at times.
On one hand, you are playing at one of the best establishments in the country with a manager that always likes to give deserved starlets their opportunity. On the other, it takes a lot of convincing to persuade Jurgen Klopp to take the leap for you.
Take young forward Bobby Duncan for example, who according to the Daily Mail, has tried to force a move away from Anfield after not being given senior football despite only playing one full season for the Reds at under-18 level.
The 18-year-old found out the hard way that won’t be tolerated, which has led to his agent, Saif Rubie, accusing Liverpool of bullying the teenager.
A player that has gone out on loan this season, is 22-year-old defender, Nathaniel Phillips, who has joined German second-division side Stuttgart.
The English enforcer has gone around it the right way in looking to earn senior football and has already been rewarded with three appearances at the beginning of the season for the Germans.
Phillips admitted to Bild that Stuttgart boss Tim Walter draws many comparisons to Klopp, which can only help his development whilst on-loan in Germany.
“Tim Walter is a bit like Klopp, both are very positive, fun in doing, passionate and dedicated to the line, which is great for the fans as well as for us players, and they have similar ideas at the counter-pressing,” he said.
“The VfB is a bit like the Liverpool of the 2nd League: everyone wants to beat the club, for many opponents, it is the game of the year.”
That can only be good things for both Phillips and Liverpool, who will both benefit from the loan come next season, as the 22-year-old could have a full campaign playing in a similar system to what the Reds do in the Premier League.
Phillips is surely in good hands with Walter, who Liverpool will be watching closely hoping he can have the same effect as Klopp does on his players.
