Jurgen Klopp delivered a congratulations message to Nat Phillips just minutes after Liverpool secured their passage to the Champions League final on Tuesday evening.
The Reds came from two goals down on the night to come back and win 3-2, completing a 5-2 aggregate victory in the process. But despite the joy of reaching a third European Cup final in five seasons, their German manager had not forgotten about the achievements of Phillips elsewhere.
Currently on loan in the Championship, the 25-year-old centre-back helped Bournemouth secure a return to Premier League football after the Cherries beat rivals Nottingham Forest 1-0 and secured the second automatic promotion spot. A win for Forest would have left the two sides level on 82 points, ensuring final day drama, but Kieffer Moore's late goal started the party early on the South Coast for Phillips and his teammates.
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Shortly after Bournemouth's success, Liverpool triumphed in Spain to keep Klopp's mentality monsters on course for an unprecedented quadruple. But despite the significant success, Klopp still found time to send a message to Phillips following his Champions League post-match press conference. "Congratulations to Nat Phillips, by the way," said the Reds boss as he climbing from his chair before leaving the room.
Phillips has enjoyed the second half of the season on loan with the Cherries in the Championship. Last season the towering defender was called upon alongside Rhys Williams to solve a defensive crisis that saw all four of Liverpool's first choice centre-backs injured. Phillips made 20 appearances for the Reds last season, scoring once against Burnley at Turf Moor. He also made two Champions League Group stage appearances for Liverpool earlier this campaign, before making his loan switch to Dean Court.
