20 Jul 2022 02:00:36
Just a question on people’s thoughts.
Now that Koumetio, and Rhys W have gone out on loan and Davies has signed for Rangers would you expect us to keep either Phillips or Van Den Berg as back up and, if so which would be the preferred option?
I know we have 4 CBs ahead of them but remember a couple of years ago and also the strange fixture list this season with the World Cup in the middle….
20 Jul 2022 02:27:21
Send out van den berg on line. Kids looking decent but needs a little more experience imo. Would love Phillips to stay but I think he’ll move late in the window.
20 Jul 2022 06:03:56
WDW there’s a good chance they’ll stay mate but if it’s to fulfil the 3 lads who’ve left minutes then they’ll possibly get the very early domestic cup games and that’s it.
We’ve been told plenty of times that we are a club that lives hand to mouth and this window we’ve brought our spend down with the sales. Having Phillips who is rated at 10-15 mill sat in the stands just in case of freak injuries could be forward thinking or a wasted opportunity of getting some money in.
20 Jul 2022 09:52:54
Ed01 has said that there’s no room for VDB hence, a loan is what will happen to him. The same will go for Phillips if he cannot be sold as he will be wasting away in the stands if he stays, as JK23 has said.
20 Jul 2022 10:07:04
So we would be happy with 4 CBs with and perhaps young Quansah and Fabs as cover? In most years I’d be happy with 5hat but am a bit wary given the season before last.
20 Jul 2022 10:31:53
Let Quansah be fifth choice, Van Den Berg has to continue to get experience. top young player! Nat should be moved on, can't see a future for him here.
20 Jul 2022 11:02:22
WDW i think only hindsight will give us the answer to that mate as if a couple of the centre backs like 2 seasons ago get injured then we would regret only having the 4.
But if like last season none of them pick up any injuries then as Gomez found out minutes are tough to come by for the 4 let alone the 5th or 6th choice.
Personally i can see VDB going on a loan and a Premier League club coming in late in the window for Phillips.
But at 25 Phillips needs to be playing established first team football somewhere as in 7 years of Senior football he's only played 65 games of First team football with only 24 of those being for LFC.
20 Jul 2022 12:41:03
I think you may well be right about VdB going out on loan and Phillips going permanently. I also think that losing the first 4 choices for a particular role was freakishly bad luck I can’t remember anything like it in my time watching us play.
20 Jul 2022 12:34:41
I think Phillips should probably be sold as it’s not healthy for his career to continuously be on loan. He’s proven himself a capable defender. VDB did excellently at Preston, so I think he needs another loan but at a step up in quality and level of football. Quansah should be the emergency choice. I genuinely can’t see us having the situation we had the season before last again, we have four very good centre backs who were largely injury free last season so there’s absolutely nothing to think there’ll be issues this season, and also it’s worth remembering that we only really started that horrific season with three centre backs after we sold Lovren and didn’t replace him.,
20 Jul 2022 13:46:40
This summer is probably the best time to sell Matip. He was arguably as good as Van Dijk last season but his injury record is so poor and he's also now in his 30's. There will likely never be another summer we could demand a good transfer fee for him.
On the flip side though, why would we sell a player off the back of his best season at the club who is a huge personality in the squad, a model professional who never courts controversy, and possibly has got over his injury problems?
Ultimately that decision falls with Ward and particularly, Klopp. As we know, Klopp is fiercely loyal. I honestly think even Wijnaldum and Mane were both offered contracts to stay. So unless Matip comes knocking on his door for a move away, I suspect he'll be remaining with us. Which means that Phillips and Sepp both need to go elsewhere for senior football; be that on loan or permanently.
20 Jul 2022 16:56:27
Phillips struggled at championship level last season at Bournemouth, not sure a Premier league will take him but needs first team football.
{Ed001's Note - no he did not.}
20 Jul 2022 17:27:45
Where do you see him ending up ed, as in the Premier League or Championship? Thought Bournemouth would have signed him permanently after going up but that's gone quiet, and there doesn't seem to be any other Premier League clubs interested.
{Ed001's Note - Bournemouth were keen, but they have been focused on other signings, I expect they are hoping to take him on loan again to allow them to save that dosh.}
20 Jul 2022 17:33:37
MR, did you watch him play enuff games to make that judgement? Also if he struggled as you say then, why does Scott Parker want him back this season?
20 Jul 2022 17:39:44
Ok, maybe a loan to Bournemouth with an obligation to buy if a certain number of appearances were met would be best for everyone. Would give him his chance at the highest level.
{Ed001's Note - I think he can do better than Bournemouth, a season-long loan could get him that better imo.}
21 Jul 2022 08:22:39
ED001 where do you see Phillips ceiling mate.
As in what club in the Premier League would suit his strengths and he could become a regular starter.
{Ed001's Note - he is good enough to play for a team in the Europa League, imo. His use of the ball improved massively in the run he had with us and his leadership was growing. I think he would make a good club captain for a team with aspirations of regular football in that competition. Someone like West Ham or similar, that are not looking to play a high line every week but need a defender who can do more than just hoof it up the pitch every time it arrives at his feet. I honestly do not understand why there are not a queue of teams for him, homegrown talent is usually sought after and he is twice the player of Tarkowski, who wasn't long ago being touted at £60m! He just isn't a media darling, so they don't point out how good he is, only point out that he is not van Dijk. But there is only one van Dijk, that is why he is the best in the world, so no one else is going to be as good!}
21 Jul 2022 08:28:46
If we can get any money for Phillips, let him go and keep Van Den Berg. VDB is far ahead of Phillips in quality, even now. Phillips was all over the show in that friendly against Man Utd and showed his true level. It would be worth dropping his fee to £15m just to get rid.
21 Jul 2022 15:36:29
Ed01, the fact that Tarkowski is being touted as much just shows the actual dearth of CB’s England possess. If Tarlowski was at Liverpool, he would be way behind Phillips at 6th or 7th choice if not 8th choice behind Rhys Williams. Absolutely dreadful defender.
{Ed001's Note - I don't understand why Everton signed him, he doesn't fix any of their issues, just adds to them.}