Liverpool fans have bemoaned the continued injury absence of young defender Nathaniel Philips from the team in recent weeks.

He has been missing in action since the goalless draw with Spanish La Liga giants Real Madrid in the Champions League earlier this month. Philips and his Liverpool teammates were unable to break down a resolute Real Madrid defence during that game as they failed to overturn the 3-1 defeat suffered in the first leg of their quarterfinal tie in Madrid thereby suffering elimination via a 3-1 aggregate defeat at the hands of the 13-time European champions.

Nathaniel Philips has been in outstanding form for Liverpool in recent months and the Reds have largely struggled defensively without him in their last two games in the league. He missed the Leeds United and Newcastle United games.

Several Liverpool fans showed their frustrations on Twitter at the continued absence of the aforementioned Philips when pictures from Liverpool training on Wednesday surfaced online. Philips was absent from training thus suggesting that he could miss the crucial league game with hosts Manchester United on Sunday.

Liverpool need to beat Manchester United away from home this weekend to give themselves a fighting chance of qualifying for the Champions League next season. The Reds have to make up four points on Chelsea in fourth position with just five games left to play in the league this season.

The Reds have not recorded a win in the league since the 2-1 comeback win over Aston Villa earlier this month. They have drawn their last two games in the league with Philips not featuring in the squad for any of the two games. In each of the two games, Liverpool conceded a late equaliser to drop two points and dent their hopes of returning to the Champions League next season.