Liverpool defender Nat Phillips has spoken out about how being in Notre Dame with the squad on the pre-season tour feels a bit surreal.
In 2016, the young defender picked out the university in Indiana for a potential football scholarship having just been released by Bolton Wanderers.
That’s when Liverpool jumped in and took Phillips under their wings at an Academy level, and he’s now on tour with the senior squad in America.
He spoke to the club’s official website about how everything has gone full circle three years later. “This was actually one of the universities I applied for so it’s funny driving along and seeing all the facilities,” he said.
“I do recognise the pitch from looking at the pictures when I was emailing all the different coaches. It’s a nice little reminder of where I was and where I’ve got to now.
“It’s nice to look at how far I’ve come from the day I made the decision to come and study and play. To compare it to going out to Madrid with Liverpool’s first team and celebrating a Champions League win, it’s quite surreal.”
Phillip spent last season with a lengthy injury which kept him from working his way into Jurgen Klopp’s plans, but he’s now making up for that this summer.
With Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren, it’s safe to assume that the 22-year-old will be targeting to be the Reds’ fifth choice centre back.