Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool boss gives special shoutout to loanee after reaching UCL final

Jurgen Klopp took the time to congratulate Nat Phillips for earning promotion to the Premier League with Bournemouth on Tuesday night.

Liverpool had just booked their place in the 2021-22 Champions League final with a 5-2 aggregate victory over Villarreal, but Klopp didn’t forget to give a special shoutout to the defender who gave his all for the Reds last season.

Phillips played the full 90 minutes for his loan side Bournemouth, who sealed promotion back to the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over third-placed Nottingham Forest at the Vitality Stadium.

The 25-year-old played a key role for Liverpool last season in the absence of the injured Virgil van Dijk, making 20 appearances throughout the campaign.

The Bolton-born centre-back endeared himself to Liverpool supporters with a series of impressive performances as the Reds chased a top-four finish.

Phillips, who was described as a “monster” by Klopp last season, popped up with a huge goal in a crucial 3-0 win over Burnley last May and ended the season playing with a Terry Butcher-esque bandage around his head after injuring himself against Crystal Palace.

The blood, sweat and tears that Phillips shed for Liverpool last season weren’t forgotten by Klopp, who ended his latest post-match press conference by congratulating the on-loan Bournemouth defender.

“Congratulations to Nat Phillips by the way,” the revered German coach said as he left his seat.

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