---
title: "Liverpool: Fans keen to see Nathaniel Phillips start against Everton"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-jurgen-klopp-nat-phillips-everton-premier-league-merseyside-derby-team-news-fans-react-twitter/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Nathan Linley"
section: "Liverpool Football Club"
published: "2021-02-20T09:15:55Z"
modified: "2021-02-20T09:15:55Z"
---

# Liverpool: Fans keen to see Nathaniel Phillips start against Everton

**Some Liverpool fans suggested that bit-part defender Nathaniel Phillips should start against Everton on Saturday.**

The 23-year-old has been ushered into the first-team setup at Anfield this season on the back of the club’s cataclysmic injury crisis, with all three of the Reds’ established centre-backs out with season-ending injuries.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”343638″\]

Manager Jurgen Klopp [admitted](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jurgen-klopp-admits-last-second-19155504) back in October that Phillips was almost sold before the season kicked into gear. His situation would have been far worse had he done so.

In the limited [game-time](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/381527/Show/Nathaniel-Phillips) he has spent on the pitch (just 495 minutes of Premier League football and five starts all season), the 6 foot 2 defender has managed to average 4.5 clearances, complete three long balls and, most importantly, win 5.2 aerial duels ([Whoscored](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/381527/Show/Nathaniel-Phillips)).

\[freshpress-poll id=”346492″\]

The latter was the critical statistic in the debate that [Grizz](https://twitter.com/GrizzKhan/status/1362763244763566081) started on Twitter, after asking the question who should be the centre-back pairing for the weekend’s crucial encounter.

### Phillips wins the Kop vote

**“Davies is as good as Hendo in the air so Phillips would be the better choice”**

[Credit: @aba23228433](https://twitter.com/aba23228433/status/1362763505439567877)

**“Would prefer nat partnering Kabak”**

[Credit: @RealmadKop](https://twitter.com/RealmadKop/status/1362764634940342281)

**“Phillips would be a good option. Hendo can’t deal with the aerial threat.”**

[Credit: @AbdulKalema](https://twitter.com/AbdulKalema/status/1362763471704711170)

**“Phillips and Kabak. Put the skipper in MF”**

[Credit: @T7261355310](https://twitter.com/T7261355310/status/1362765673684996106)

**“Kobak and Philips at the back and have Hendo as a CDM could drop back between the CBs if required”**

[Credit: @Joshwaldron9](https://twitter.com/Joshwaldron9/status/1362767332674842627)

**“Phillips would be a good shout to counter that threat”**

[Credit: @bfenners17](https://twitter.com/bfenners17/status/1362764160992481282)

**“Get phillips in, i don’t understand why henderson play ahead of him as cb. I reckon Phillips has been superb”**

[Credit: @Fran\_13\_](https://twitter.com/Fran__13___/status/1362766340252184581)

*In other news, **[Liverpool in four-horse race for ‘unplayable’ talent in blockbuster deal – report.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-fc-transfer-rumours/liverpool-jurgen-klopp-kylian-mbappe-transfer-premier-league-psg-gossip-rumours-news/)***