---
title: "Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp heaps praise on Nat Phillips after RB Leipzig win"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-jurgen-klopp-heaps-praise-on-nat-phillips-after-rb-leipzig-win/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Liverpool Football Club"
published: "2021-03-11T14:15:13Z"
modified: "2021-03-11T14:15:13Z"
---

# Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp heaps praise on Nat Phillips after RB Leipzig win

**Jurgen Klopp has heaped huge praise on Nat Phillips, following a superb performance from the centre-back against RB Leipzig.**

The Reds were excellent in their 2-0 win over Julian Nagelsmann’s side on Wednesday evening, cruising into the Champions League quarter-finals.

After a frustrating first half saw Liverpool dominate but miss endless good chances, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane eventually put the tie to bed with well-taken finishes after the break.

\[freshpress-poll id=”348883″\]

There were a number of strong performances on show at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, with Fabinho magnificent back in midfield and Phillips shining at the back.

### “Oh my god” – Klopp lauds brilliant Phillips

It was the latter who came in for enormous praise after the game, with Klopp telling reporters ([via Paul Gorst](https://twitter.com/ptgorst/status/1369782135557664776?s=20)) that he was delighted with the 23-year-old’s performance:

> “Phillips…oh my god! What a night for him. Absolutely great. Concentration level he shows is incredible. In the air, a monster, but football-wise not bad, I couldn’t be happier than I am for Nat. A great game.”

### Transfer Tavern take

Phillips is more than worthy of such a glowing review, having put together such a dominant all-round showing against a team fighting for the Bundesliga title.

The defender may have his limitations as a player, but he has really stepped up to the plate in the [absence](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-liverpool/sperrenundverletzungen/verein/31) of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.

At a time when many Liverpool players have been under-performing, Phillips has been blameless a lot of the time and is arguably showing he could be a good fourth-choice option at centre-back next season.

He is out of contract in the summer of 2022 ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nathaniel-phillips/profil/spieler/371814)), meaning he could be snapped up for free next year, and perhaps performances like this one will convince the Reds hierarchy to extend that deal.

***In other news, Liverpool have been boosted in their attempts to sign Kylian Mbappe this summer. Read about it [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-fc-transfer-rumours/liverpool-reds-boosted-in-bid-to-sign-kylian-mbappe-this-summer/).***