By Frank McAvennie

6th Nov, 2020 | 5:20pm

Pundit Exclusive: Liverpool could save millions in January after £30m superstar reveal

The displays of Rhys Williams and Nathaniel Phillips could herald a Jurgen Klopp U-turn and stop him from buying a new Liverpool centre-back in January, according to Frank McAvennie.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider correspondent Dylan Childs, the former West Ham and Celtic striker claimed the pair are doing “very well” in Virgil van Dijk’s absence.

This site revealed earlier this week that Reds target David Alaba is available for a cut-price £30million in January after the superstar defender fell out with Bayern Munich chiefs.

Klopp will be without van Dijk for the whole season after he suffered an ACL injury in last month’s Merseyside derby.

Joel Matip and Fabinho have also suffered injuries recently meaning the German has had to turn to Williams, 19, and Phillips, 23.

Williams has featured in Liverpool’s last two Champions League games while Phillips made his Premier League debut last week against West Ham.

And McAvennie expects the pair will only improve the longer they spend with the first-team.

He told Football Insider: “The biggest problem they’ve got is Virgil van Dijk being injured.

“The two young boys, Williams and Phillips, have come in and took their chance. 

“You’ve got to do it, you’ve got to change the managers point of view and these boys are doing that very well. Good luck to them.

“Klopp takes his time with the under-23s and under-18s, he oversees everything.

“They train the same way as the first-team so when they step up there’s not a massive upheaval and they’re not being blinded by the lights.

“They come in and it’s just a better class of player they’re playing with and it’s only going to make these boys better.

“These boys might stop Klopp spending a lot of money in January.”

In other news, a “world-class” Liverpool target may have another move lined up, according to a top pundit.