Liverpool defender Nat Phillips has no qualms about greater competition for places this season.

The center back enjoyed a lot of playing time last term, due to the long term injuries suffered by Virgil Van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.

All three are hoping to be available for the majority of this season, which means Phillips may have to work very hard to get regular starts for Jurgen Klopp's team.

He said, per the Daily Star: "That's nothing new in football, you've always got high competition for places.

"Obviously with those boys coming back and seeing them play again, it is nice to have them back in front of you and be able to try to pick things up again, like I always used to and try to learn from their games when you see them in training.

"You've got to view it as an opportunity.

"They are three of the best defenders in the world – you'd be daft if you didn't take that opportunity to try to take on new things yourself and try to learn things from their game."

Phillips added: "I think so, now that those first few weeks are out of the way where you're regaining your fitness and you're getting used to the high intensity after a long break, you're adapting your body.

"Once that's out of the way, you're sort of champing at the bit to get going now and you want to use what you've been developing over those few weeks, that you feel physically ready.

"Then you just want to kick on."