Liverpool will be hoping to maintain their lead at the top of the Premier League table with victory over Manchester United on Sunday.
Jurgen Klopp’s side currently sit just a single point ahead of second-placed Arsenal, who can temporarily move top of the standings with victory over Brighton and Hove Albion in Sunday’s earlier kick-off.
Ahead of the game against United, Liverpool have reportedly decided to recall one of their defenders from a loan spell.
According to Football Insider, the Merseyside outfit are set to recall centre-back Nat Phillips from his loan spell with Scottish side Celtic.
The report claims that the defender will be recalled when the transfer window opens in January, just five months after joining the Scottish champions.
Phillips, 26, moved north of the border on an initial four-month loan, but the deal did include the option to extend the move until the end of the current campaign.
Phillips is expected to return to parent club Liverpool next month
Despite that, it is claimed that Liverpool will instead opt to recall the defender next month as they look for defensive cover following Joel Matip’s recent injury.
The Cameroon international is set to miss the remainder of the current season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury earlier this month.
Phillips has struggled to establish himself as a regular since making the move to Parkhead over the summer.
The Englishman has made just eight appearances across all competitions so far, and started only three Premiership matches.
He has made 29 appearances for Liverpool in total, but it remains to be seen to what extent he will be used by Klopp during the second half of the current campaign.