Kalvin Phillips will have a point to prove to Pep Guardiola when Manchester City take on Liverpool in the Carabao Cup round of 16.
The Blues beat Chelsea 2-0 in the third round on November 9, as Guardiola's side see their competitive club football resume once again after the World Cup break on December 22.
The draw has not been kind to City, as they missed out on the chance of playing against one of the five teams outside of the Premier League that still remain in the competition. City know that they will need to beat the reigning champions Liverpool, in order to progress to the quarter-finals.
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It is no secret that City under Guardiola have taken the League Cup extremely seriously - they lifted the trophy in four successive seasons from 2017/18 to 2020/21. Although some players may see playing in the competition as a sign that their manager does not value them as much, Guardiola views things differently.
“This is the only country that in February you can win a title,” Guardiola said after their 2019 triumph. “I think [it's good] for the mood.”
Performing well for City in the competition is therefore vital if you want to impress the Catalan manager. This is something that Phillips, who has only made four appearances for the club since his move this summer, will be all too aware of.
The most notable cameo from the midfielder came during City's win over Chelsea in the third round, as Phillips managed to play for 40 minutes against Graham Potter's side. Speaking after the game, it was clear to see how pleased the former Leeds man was to be able to play for a substantial period of time for his new club having struggled with injuries.
“Without playing for a while, it’s nerve-racking stepping on to the pitch for one of my first appearances for the club," Phillips said. "With my injuries I’ve not been playing 100 per cent because of my shoulder. Now it’s sorted I can get back to what I was before. Hopefully it’ll put me in good stead.”
Guardiola also went on to say: “Kalvin made a good 40 minutes. He didn’t play for a long time and played with incredible personality. Of course, he has to get used to some things which are normal for playing.”
Phillips only featured for twice for England during the World Cup break, as although personally he will be disappointed not to have played more, Guardiola may well be secretly relieved that he did not suffer any further injury set backs.
The 27-year-old can now target the Liverpool clash as the perfect example to show his manager what he has to offer ahead of a congested fixture schedule in the second-half of the season. Phillips will know how important this competition is to Guardiola, as he looks to get the chance to remind the City boss exactly why he signed him back in July.
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