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Liverpool defeated West Ham in the Premier League this weekend thanks to a late goal from Diogo Jota at Anfield.
It was a tough game for the Reds, who had to fight from a goal down after Pablo Fornals had given David Moyes’s team the lead in the first half.
Despite all of Liverpool’s star power, it was a 23-year-old who made his Premier League debut that attracted the most attention from fans and experts.
Nathaniel Phillips received the player of the match award for his solid performance, having placed himself in the center of defense with players like Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Fabinho, all injured.
This culminates a memorable few months for the player, who was expected to find a new home at the end of last season.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 31: (Photo by Peter Powell – Pool / Getty Images)
Speaking after the match, Klopp praised the defender for his display and confirmed that up to half of the teams in the Championship wanted the former Stuttgart loan player in the summer.
“He’s a brilliant, smart, smart guy, everything,” Klopp told the BBC. “He’s not pretty to look at, he’s not Messi, but who cares? In the air, it is a monster! It was incredible.
“For the first game, I think everyone can imagine how nervous he must be after a long wait. It’s a crazy story, three years ago I was on my way to America to go to college. Twelve championship teams wanted him and me, it was clear that he was going, and he was fine with it, and it didn’t work out for some reason, and it’s great! Tonight he was right, he helped the team incredibly. “
Klopp was also referring to the time when Phillips was ready to board a flight to the US to study at the University of North Carolina in hopes of getting a college education and a spot in the MLS draft after the finale. of his time at Bolton Wanderers. . Instead, he got a call to join Liverpool for a preseason training camp and ended up agreeing to a deal with the Reds.
Phillips has had to bide his time to debut in the Premier League, but against a fairly robust offensive lineup from West Ham, he held his ground.
Impressive in the air and capable with the ball at their feet, Liverpool fans were certainly impressed by this throwback defensive display of long-term development talent.
Maybe Liverpool will be fine without Van Dijk and company after all.
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