Klopp irked by comparisons aimed at Liverpool duo; offers Van Dijk update

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says that defenders Nathaniel Phillips and Rhys Williams should not be compared to the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez.

Phillips and Williams have enjoyed unlikely promotions to the senior Liverpool ranks this season, amid the Reds‘ injury troubles.

Van Dijk, who had played every Premier League game of the previous two seasons, will be out for the foreseeable future with a knee injury. Gomez is in the same situation, after his injury in England training.

As such, Phillips – who Liverpool were willing to let go in the recent transfer window – has made two top-flight appearances. Williams, meanwhile, has stepped up in the Champions League.

But despite the pair taking the limelight, Klopp has said that they are their own players in their own situations.

“If someone is a youth or academy player at Liverpool, he has for sure a lot of talent,” the manager said.

“When you come up and make the final step for the first team, that’s a different animal.

“I think the boys did that really well. They have helped us enormously. The only problem they have from time to time, is that people compare them with the guy who played the position before them.

Nathaniel Phillips

“They are – in our case – all world class players. That makes it difficult for people to see clearly how talented these boys are. From my point of view, they did really, really well.”

Phillips made his second Premier League outing of the campaign in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Brighton. Klopp hailed the 23-year-old’s performance as “exceptional”.

Williams, meanwhile, has played in all four of the Reds’ Champions League ties.

Klopp offers Van Dijk update

Pickford Van Dijk TEAMtalk

Klopp has also offered an update on Van Dijk’s progress, after the Netherlands’ international’s knee surgery.

The manager told reporters at Tuesday’s press conference (via the Liverpool Echo): “Considering the current circumstances, he is doing really well.

“Yes of course we are in contact. He is doing really well but his knee doesn’t look good.

“[But] it looks good for a knee that has had surgery. He is doing well.”

Klopp also faced further questions on Thiago Alcantara’s knee injury, with the Spaniard having been out since mid-October.

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