Nat Phillips to remain at Liverpool for now after Jurgen Klopp plan

Liverpool are not currently listening to offers for Nat Phillips after his return to the Reds from Celtic. Jurgen Klopp has a plan for the defender.

The Liverpool Echo reports that Liverpool are not currently listening to offers for Nat Phillips. But that doesn't mean they will completely ignore things this month.

Phillips returned to Anfield after a loan at Celtic didn't go to plan. He played just six times over the first half of the season and only three of those were starts. That totalled 317 minutes - not exactly the kind of game time you want your loan player to have.

Nor is it what Phillips needs now that he's 26. He's no longer a young player and should be right in the prime of his career. Instead, he's struggling to find regular football anywhere.

But then comes the bizarre thing with Phillips. He couldn't get games with Celtic, while no one else seems willing to sign him with a guarantee of regular minutes. Liverpool, though, may use him.

The Reds are one of the biggest and best teams in the world and yet see more use for Phillips than teams with far less at their disposal. It seems that's the case once again.

The Echo's report says that Jurgen Klopp wants Phillips around until the end of the month as he has a use for him. Joel Matip's injury has left them a little short and it may be that the 26-year-old plays in either of the two cup games coming up.

Only at the end of the month will Liverpool actively listen to offers. Really, it makes it sound as though Phillips is pencilled in to partner Jarell Quansah against Norwich City in the FA Cup in order to give Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté extra rest.

That would have the bonus of putting Phillips in the shop window for a game - potentially drawing more interest as the window nears its close.