Liverpool star set to join Scottish club on loan until end of season - Reports
Liverpool centre-back Nathaniel Phillips is reportedly on the verge of sealing a loan switch to Celtic.
The Englishman is behind Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip in the pecking order under Jurgen Klopp. He rose to prominence in the 2020-21 season, where he played 17 league games for an injury-hit Liverpool side and helped them to a fourth-place finish.
Since then, Phillips hasn't had any luck with regard to playing time under Klopp. He has made 29 appearances across competitions for the Reds in his eight years for the club.
Phillips was allowed to join Bournemouth on a six-month loan in January 2022, and it seems he's set for another temporary spell away. According to the Times, Celtic are close to signing the 26-year-old centre-back, who has two years left in his contract at Anfield.
Brendan Rodgers is without defenders Cameron Carter-Vickers, Stephen Welsh and Maik Nawrocki, who're sidelined with injuries. Phillips, who stands at 6' 3", is strong in the air and hard to outmuscle in physical battles.
The loan deal is supposed to last till the end of the current season. Celtic have already started their Premiership season and have garnered seven points in three games.
Jurgen Klopp unhappy about Liverpool star's red card in Newcastle United win
Virgil van Dijk was sent off in the 28th minute of Liverpool's Premier League clash against Newcastle United on August 27.
The Reds were a goal down when Van Dijk stopped Alexander Isak from turning and having a clear goalscoring chance. The Dutchman was shown a straight red card, which led the 32-year-old to react intensely towards the officials.
Klopp gave his opinion on the incident (via the club's website):
"I don’t think it is a red card. It’s pretty much no contact, very little, and it’s on the way to the ball, but what can I say?
"The decision is like this. I cannot change it, and I don’t want it. It’s just, would I give this in a training game? Definitely not. There are reasons why I am not a ref, and they are."
Van Dijk's original one-game suspension could be extended for another game after he was recently charged by the FA for alleged improper conduct. For now, he's set to sit out the league game at Anfield against Aston Villa on September 3.