Liverpool’s Premier League meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Molineaux last night ended in a 1-0 win for the Reds. The Merseyside outfit have struggled to make a worthwhile defence of the league title that they won last season, owing to an injury crisis in defence that has ruled Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez out for the season.
The astonishingly poor form currently see Liverpool in the middle of a six-match losing streak at Anfield – for the very first time in their decorated history.
Jurgen Klopp has often had to field makeshift central defenders such as Fabinho and Jordan Henderson in this injury-ravaged season for the defending champions, alongside a certain Nathaniel Phillips – a 23-year-old centre back who has suddenly found himself getting a lot more game time this season than he possibly could have imagined.
Phillips put on a stellar performance against Wolves last night and his display of bravery, dominance and strength was summed up in an incredible photo from the game – one where he is seen to be contesting a duel with Fabio Silva.
While Silva has his foot high in order to make some contact with the ball, a brave Phillips brought his head into the contest – despite the risk of a potentially serious injury if things didn’t work out well for the English centre back.
The picture summed up what Phillips is all about – an old-fashioned, reliable centre back who is willing to put his head in between ball and attacker in order to control potential damage for his side, as said by the defender himself earlier this month while speaking to SportBible.
The defender said it “proper winds him up” when he is unable to win a header in an aerial duel. It turns out that Phillips was not lying, as can be seen from the picture which went viral last night.
Phillips’ status as a cult figure in what has been a tough season for Liverpool will only get better if his performances continue in this vein.
