Alan Shearer has been speaking on the latest edition of Match of the Day about Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Burnley that moved the Reds into the top four with just one game to go.
Shearer was full of praise for Liverpool, but he reserved a special mention for Nat Phillips, who scored his first-ever Premier League goal and also made a fantastic clearance off the line.
This earned Phillips an 8/10 rating from the Liverpool Echo, and Shearer was very impressed.
He said: “It was a bit of a tricky start for Nat Phillips, but after that, once he had settled down, he was the best player on the park.
“He was commanding, did everything he had to do very well.
“[He was a] threat at the other end.
“And he, as I said, was the best performer for me tonight.”
Do you think that Phillips has improved?
Yes, definitely
No, he is useless
TIF Thoughts on Phillips…
Due to the injuries to Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip, Phillips has had to play quite a few Premier League games, and he has turned in some average performances, but recently, his displays have improved, and he clearly impressed Shearer.
Now heading into the final league game of the season against Crystal Palace, the Reds are in a strong position, and if Phillips can help his side once more, then Liverpool should have Champions League football next season.
Phillips is still only 24, and it is clear that the increased game time has helped him, and it will be interesting to see how the Reds use him next season when the injured trio return.
In other news: ‘Stood up to the challenge’ – BBC pundit wowed by ‘dominant’ Liverpool man