Patrick Vieira has said he feels there is more to come from Crystal Palace midfielder Killian Phillips after his performance against Liverpool.
The 20-year-old from Dublin played against the Champions League finalists at the Singapore National Stadium on Friday, with Phillips starting alongside Luka Milivojevic and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi in midfield for the Eagles. The former Drogheda United youngster acquitted himself well too, earning praise for his performance and his post-match interview, in which he described his journey from Sunday League football three years ago to playing against Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool.
And Vieira has praised the midfielder, who only joined Palace's academy in January from the League of Ireland, having made his senior debut for Drogheda United in April 2021. Indeed, the Frenchman has said he feels the Irish midfielder can keep improving as he hailed his attitude and approach to working with the first team this summer.
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"He is someone who will catch the eye because of his determination on the field. He is a hard-working player," he told Palace TV. "Three years ago, he was playing [Sunday League] football, but of course he still needs to understand the game and he still wants to work and he has the attributes that you need to improve yourself. I am delighted with the game that he had and I think there is still more to come from him if he is keeping this kind of mentality."
For Phillips, he said he had goosebumps hearing the Liverpool fans singing 'You'll never walk alone', but he said he hoped this was just the start for him. And he said he was pleased with his own performance up against the likes of England international Jordan Henderson and highly-rated young Reds midfielders Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones.
"I thought I did well and I put myself about. I have been getting used to the lads and getting used to the tempo. I want to thank the manager because he has put a lot of faith in me," he said. "I was playing Sunday League three years ago, so it is madness. This time last year I had about 14 senior appearances, so it is unbelievable and I will sit back and look back and reflect and think I have done well. But I am just enjoying it and loving my football."
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