‘Definitely’: Jose Enrique names defender he wants Liverpool to keep | OneFootball

Former Liverpool defender Jose Enrique has urged Liverpool to go with Nat Phillips over Ozan Kabak in the Premier League next season.

Enrique says he would rather see Phillips as a part of Liverpool’s squad next term than Kabak as he is better suited to the English style of play.

The Spaniard wants Liverpool’s four centre-back options next season to be Joel Matip, Nat Phillips, Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk, although he admits another centre-back would need to come in if Matip is sold.

Speaking to Empire of the Kop, Jose Enrique offered his thoughts on Kabak and Phillips. “If both Phillips and Kabak were free this summer, I’d still go for Phillips.

“But with Phillips already ours and Kabak costing £18m, I definitely choose Nat. Next season, my four defenders would be Van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Phillips.

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“If Matip is sold, I’d bring in a new centre-back, but Phillips won’t cost us anything and has proven himself.

“Phillips is strong and amazing in the air. Kabak would be better for a possession team, a Barcelona, but in the Premier League, with all the long-balls, I prefer Phillips for our style.”

ANFIELD WATCH VERDICT

Jose Enrique points to Phillip’s ability to win headers and the statistics back that up. Phillips has won an incredible six aerial duels per 90 in the Premier League for Liverpool this season, whilst Kabak’s average is 3.5. The Englishman is also averaging more interceptions, clearances and blocks per 90 than Kabak, which suggests that he is the better out-and-out defender out of the pair.

As Enrique says, though, Kabak is more suited to a possession game and his numbers in that area are impressive. Kabak has had a passing accuracy of 88% for Liverpool in the Premier League, whilst only giving the ball away 8.9 times and making six ball recoveries per 90. These numbers are all ahead of Phillips’, which shows that Kabak is more cultured on the ball and prone to fewer mistakes in possession.

However, there has been no suggestion that it will be one or the other next season and the pair could both be options for Liverpool if Kabak signs on a permanent basis. Whilst Enrique says Phillips suits the English game more, the pair’s contrasting style could be what makes them a decent partnership as they are able to complement each other’s games by doing things the other is not able to.