Nat Phillips broke his cheekbone and played on in Liverpool's win at AC Milan

Liverpool defender Nat Phillips was one of the players singled out for praise by manager Jurgen Klopp after the Reds' midweek victory over AC Milan, and his achievement has taken on an extra significance with the discovery that he broke his cheekbone during the game.

Klopp described Phillips' impressive turn in his own box as "the moment of the night", as goals from Mohamed Salah and Divock Origi helped Liverpool come from behind to win at the San Siro.

The match represented Phillips' first start this season, with the Englishman relegated to the fringes after the return of Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip from injury and the summer signing of Ibrahima Konate.

However, he will not be involved in the weekend Premier League meeting with Aston Villa thanks to the nasty injury sustained in Italy.

Were you impressed by Phillips' performance in Milan? Have your say in the comments section

A statement from Liverpool confirmed Phillips suffered a cheekbone fracture during the game, though it is unclear at which point the injury was sustained.

The 24-year-old played on through the break, which will not require surgery, and he is due to take part in a "bespoke training plan" until he is ready to return.

He is likely to be out until the new year, though, with Klopp telling the press Phillips "has to be careful" ahead of an anticipated four or five weeks on the sidelines.

Phillips' only previous appearances for Liverpool this season came as a substitute against Preston North End in the Carabao Cup and for the final few moments against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

It marks a change compared to last season, when long-term absences for Van Dijk, Matip and Joe Gomez saw the 24-year-old - as well as 20-year-old Rhys Williams - called into action.

However, while Klopp has used his academy defenders sparingly, he has had praise for their impact last term.

"Maybe we should have just played Rhys and Nat together earlier and trusted the boys more. In that moment I thought they were not ready, later on they were ready and they could both play," Klopp said in November.

"That would have given us a bit more stability in other areas. Lose a centre-half it's like breaking a leg.

"But if you then put the midfielders in the last line and open up other gaps then you break your spine and all of a sudden you cannot walk anymore. That's exactly like it was last year."

Phillips' injury will keep him out of Liverpool's Carabao Cup quarter-final against Leicester City, if the club's estimations are accurate, while he will also miss several league games.

It will be touch-and-go as to whether the centre-back will return in time for the third round of the FA Cup - the competition in which he made his senior debut for the Reds in 2020 - with Klopp's side welcoming Shrewsbury Town to Anfield in January.