Ferdinand: Liverpool star Phillips just like Baresi

‘Beautiful, like Baresi!’: Nat Phillips is compared to the legendary former AC Milan captain by Rio Ferdinand after the Liverpool defender’s incredible turn inside his own penalty area beats Zlatan AND Franck Kessie in San Siro victory

  • Nathaniel Phillips was given a rare start in Liverpool’s 2-1 win at AC Milan
  • But the defender showed his credentials with an outrageous turn on the ball
  • The skill inside his own box saw him beat Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Franck Kessie
  • Rio Ferdinand compared his play to AC Milan defensive great Franco Baresi 

Liverpool fans were left purring at another excellent performance from their side following their 2-1 Champions League victory at AC Milan.

But it wasn’t just recording a sixth consecutive Champions League win to ensure a 100 per cent group record that left onlookers in awe.

Nat Phillips was given a rare start in a much changed Reds team, but showed he was by no means a downgrade on first-team stars Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate in the centre of the defence.

Nat Phillips performs a dragback that sees him evade the pressure of Zlatan Ibrahimovic

The centre-back kept Milan’s key striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic quiet throughout the evening, and even turned the tables on the veteran Swede with an outrageous piece of skill.

Picking up a loose ball and facing his own goal, the 24-year-old looked to be in serious trouble as Ibrahimovic and Franck Kessie instantly pressed looking to rob him of possession.

But with zen-like calm, Phillips almost casually performed an effortless looking dragback to evade both Rossoneri stars and bring the ball away from the Liverpool penalty box to start a counter attack.


The Liverpool defender put in a composed performance in his side’s 2-1 win at the San Siro

Most impressed by the piece of skill that any creative player would be proud of let alone a centre-back was Rio Ferdinand, who lauded Phillips’ turn by comparing him to San Siro legend Franco Baresi.

Baresi spent his entire 20 years at AC Milan before retiring in 1977, including 15 as captain, and was famed for leading a backline as a sweeper where he could help start counter attacks during the club’s high point in the early 1990s. 

Ferdinand told BT Sport: ‘Look at this from Nat. Two players have just got to pay to get back into the San Siro.

Ferdinand compared Phillips’  skill with legendary former AC Milan captain Franco Baresi

‘Just watch Phillips. These two players, Kessie and Zlatan. I don’t think they realise they’re going to have to come back into the stadium at some point. Beautiful, like Baresi at the San Siro.’

Liverpool were already confirmed as group winners heading into the clash in Milan but were aiming to become the first English team to win all six of their group games despite making eight changes.

They fell behind against the run of play in the first half when former Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori bundled home, only for Mohamed Salah and Divock Origi to net either side of the break to seal a comfortable victory to see them into the last-16 in style.




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