Man City have an easy decision to make with Kalvin Phillips amid Liverpool links

Things are looking bleak for Kalvin Phillips.

When you've been playing second fiddle all season long, patiently biding your time for the man ahead of you in the team to be unavailable so you can finally come in and show your stuff only to be left sitting on the bench when that day finally arrives, against a Championship team no less... Yeah, the writing isn't only on the wall but it's about 30ft high and glowing in violent neon.

Rodri was so exhausted after the draw with Bayern Munich that he had to sit out Manchester City's FA Cup semi-final win over the now-promoted Sheffield United but rather than give Phillips just his third start of the season, Pep Guardiola opted to move Ilkay Gundogan back there instead.

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It's clear that the Blues boss doesn't trust Phillips to be able to start matches, especially when every single game is now so important and could have dramatic consequences if lost. Phillips didn't help himself when he struggled in his third-longest appearance in a blue shirt against Leicester City. He got lost as the Foxes scored and the side gradually lost their control with him in midfield.

Phillips himself admitted upon sealing his move from Leeds that it would be difficult to dislodge Rodri from the side but even he must have expected to play more than a meagre 405 minutes. It's no surprise he is already being linked with a departure. Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move for the Yorkshireman this week as Jurgen Klopp looks to rejuvenate his own midfield and it might make sense for City to try and recuperate some of their losses.

But, selling Phillips are just one season might be jumping the gun