Jurgen Klopp has defended Nat Phillips following his failed Celtic loan stint and he has now urged the defender to fight for his Liverpool future.

Phillips moved to Parkhead in September, but the switch did not work out with the Englishman failing to make a huge impact in Brendan Rodgers' side.

Phillips did have an option to extend his loan deal at Celtic, but instead Liverpool have decided to recall their defender with Klopp defending his performances in Scotland.

On his and Rhys Williams' future at Anfield, Klopp explained today: “With Nat we have to see. We have to consider our own situation, stuff like this. He will definitely be with us until the end of the month. We will have talks and see our situation, that’s how it is.

“We really think highly actually of both, to be honest, because of the things the boys did when they were here. Now Nat, I’m not sure he would say it worked out 100 percent at Celtic.

“A little bit with injuries, but then if a team like Celtic is in a positive moment and you are in the team, then you stay in the team; if it’s not a positive moment and you are in the team, then you might go out. That says nothing about the quality. Nat will train with us, and then we will see how that develops.”

Williams was on loan at Aberdeen but he also failed to make an impact in the Scottish Premiership.

Klopp added: “With Rhys it’s slightly different. He will be first with the U21s,” the manager confirmed. I will have to talk to him about why his loan spell didn’t work out, that was obviously different.

“The boy I know, I would expect to play in Scotland, 100 percent, from the first until the last second, if it’s not Celtic or Rangers where it’s always slightly different – and he didn’t.

“I will have to talk to him about that, didn’t do that yet but it will happen definitely. Then we will see what the outcome of that conversation is.”