An Ode to Nat Phillips The Old School Defender Seizing His Opportunity

By Tom Cunningham @TomCunningham75This season has been a testing one, hasn’t it? So many negative moments have occurred, so many have failed to step up when needed. But Nat Phillips hasn’t. Instead, out of nowhere, he has seized his opportunity to become a part of this Liverpool squad.In the absence of literally every aerial presence in the heart of Liverpool’s backline, Phillips is exactly the type of player they needed. He’s a throwback to old-fashioned, no-nonsense central defenders whilst also adjusting to the modern way of thinking in a high line.Fabinho, Salah and Thiago will get the plaudits for the Leipzig result and perhaps deservedly so, but it was Phillips who was quite literally heading away any thoughts of a Liverpool collapse.The 23-year-old quite heads everything. Against Leipzig especially, he reminded me of Martin Skrtel- don’t worry in a good way- as he wore the headband resemblant of a man already scarred from a previous battle. Yet, with the headband on, time and time again, Phillips’ head acted like a magnet to the Champions League ball.It’s got to the point that I reckon he’d head anything away in a Liverpool shirt. Bullet coming your way? Don’t worry, Phillips will head clear? Asteroid about to end the world, Phillips will head it clear!I may be exaggerating ever so slightly, yes, but the fact still remains that the former Stuttgart loanee is quickly grasping his opportunity by the scruff of the neck and, in doing so, playing his part to form some kind of positive outcome in a campaign of misery.The Leipzig game was a reprieve from the misery of Premier League action, the end of groundhog-day like performances that leave you questioning whether it’s even worth it, and an insight into what the rest of the season may have in store.For the first time since the 7-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace, everything seemed to click. The defence, as alluded to before, were left relatively unscathed. The midfield trio of Wijnaldum, Thiago, and the almighty return of Fabinho back in that six role had us all in dreamland.

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And, eventually, in their own good time, the forwards found the back of the net to signal a collective sigh of relief.Going back to THAT midfield, though, my word, what a difference it makes to have Fabinho back. Who knew he could play midfield? The difference was incredible. His sheer presence acted as a block to any thought of a Leipzig comeback.Thiago, with Fabinho finally behind him, returned to his silky, aesthetically pleasing best. And Gini, as he often does, mopped up in between. But it’s not just the midfield his presence boosted.With Fabinho back in midfield, Trent Alexander-Arnold was able to bomb forward without the anxiety and need to race back because Fabinho, like Jordan Henderson does, naturally filled in.It was a performance that can only be described as recognisable. That is the Liverpool side we love to watch. The shithouse tackles in midfield to break up play; the defender’s literally heading away everything; the passing flowing and the forwards, eventually clicking into gear.Long may it continue, too, to save what is left of the Premier League season but, more importantly, keep the love affair of the Champions League going.And if any obstacles do come flying our way, don’t worry because Nat Phillips will head them away.By Tom Cunningham – @TomCunningham75