Pundit slams Liverpool star Phillips as ‘Championship player at best’
Gabby Agbonlahor has claimed Nat Phillips is a “Championship player at best” after he helped Liverpool to a 2-1 Champions League win against AC Milan.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Aston Villa and England attacker insisted Phillips is “not a Premier League centre-half”.
The game at the San Siro was his first start of the season for Liverpool after substitute appearances against Atletico Madrid and Preston North End in the Champions League and League Cup.
Jurgen Klopp made eight changes to the side that narrowly beat Wolves 1-0 at the weekend (4 December) with his side already qualified for the knockout rounds.
Phillips became a regular starter in the second half of last season as the Reds suffered an injury crisis.
The 24-year-old played 20 times across all competitions, including 15 Premier League starts, as Jurgen Klopp’s side secured a top-four finish.
His performances were rewarded by Liverpool with a fresh four-year contract at the end of August.
But Agbonlahor has questioned whether he has a long-term future at Anfield.
“Nat Phillips is not a Premier League centre-half,” he told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“I’ve watched a bit of him now at Liverpool and he’s not good enough.
“For me, he’s a Championship player at best, he’s not good enough for the Premier League, especially at the top end.”
Football Insider revealed last month (29 November) West Ham are laying the groundwork on a deal for Phillips ahead of the January transfer window.
Both Angelo Ogbanna and Kurt Zouma are long-term absentees with ACL and hamstring injuries.
In other news, Kieran Maguire has revealed Liverpool will be thrilled after FSG’s ‘big bucks’ deal is reported last week.