Klopp Praises Nat Phillips Ahead of West Ham

The manager has to make a decision about who will take that
other center-back spot.

One after the other, manager Jürgen Klopp’s center-back players
have fallen like dominoes at the beginning of the 2020-21 campaign.
The latest victim is Fabinho, the midfielder who briefly took over
duties in the position in place of Virgil van Dijk. Thankfully, the
manager seems to believe that the Brazilian won’t be out long.

However, that comfort does him no good today when he has to pick
his side to play against West Ham at Anfield.

The choices for the honor include Nat Phillips, Rhys Williams,
and Billy Koumetio, and with the official site, the boss had some
kind words for Phillips, the 23-year-old Englishman.

“They were all good in training. I know Nat the longest so I was
really happy with this development. Since I know him he made big,
big steps and is an exceptional character,” .

“I said it before that the little problem was that we were all
convinced, how it looked all the time… there were a lot of clubs
interested in him and in the end, maybe because of the coronavirus
crisis, nobody had the money to do it but we expected him to leave
the club, to be honest. Thank God he didn’t, but that’s the reason
why he is not in the Champions
League

“He cannot be on the bench in the Champions League but he is
available for the Premier League like all three are and now I have
to make a decision.”

He hasn’t ruled anyone out of contention, and in fact suggested
some creative workarounds to fill the spot as well.

“And we have still, obviously, other options like Hendo or Gini
or James [Milner] – or Robbo can play centre-half as well,” Klopp
continued.

Klopp, if you recall, took control of this club amidst a defense
injury crisis back in 2015, so he’s no stranger to making the best
of a bad situation. We’ll have to see if Phillips finds himself in
the hot seat, or if it’s another midfielder or wingback who plays
out of position.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has
condemned the recent attack on some media houses.

Mohammed who spoke in Lagos on Saturday when he paid a visit to
the media organisations that were attacked in the aftermath of the
EndSARS protest and the Lekki shooting, said any attack on media
houses was an affront on democracy in the country.

“Whoever attacks free press is also attacking democracy because
there can no democracy without a robust and vibrant free press,” he
said.

“That is why this attack must be condemned without any
reservation. Closely those who came here came with a purpose. It
was to shut down the voice of reasoning.

He also reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to
regulating the social media, stressing that the move was to protect
the rights of other Nigerians.

The minister noted that he wasn’t going back on his earlier
assertion that the government would control the media.

“A few people will say look at the minister who just few days
ago was speaking about regulating the social media. What kind of
double speech? He is coming here again to talk about protecting the
media.

“Of course, I don’t see any contradictions in those positions.
Yes, we would protect the free press; we would protect democracy
and the rights of other Nigerians to express themselves. At the
same time, we must protect the rights of others,” he added.

The minister’s remarks come 10 days after the headquarters of
Television Continental (TVC) among other media houses were attacked
by a mob in Lagos.