As far as I know, many electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions fail to undergo the usual way in aniline. This is due to $\ce{-H2N}$ group being basic (pKa of $\ce{NH3}$ = 38), even it is stabilized by the aromatic ring (resonance). Therefore, it often acts as a Lewis / Bronsted base (becoming a deactivating group), rather than being an activating group. Therefore, reactions like Friedel-Crafts reactions, nitration, sulphonation etc. will not undergo, unless the $\ce{-H2N}$ undergoes acylation.
e.g. Failure of Friedel-Crafts alkylation:
I am pondering why phenol does not behave the same way as aniline does. In my mind, fast proton transfer can happen during nitration and sulphonation (pKa of phenol = 10). It can also behave as Lewis Base and attack AlCl3 (presence of lone pair electrons). (or any other activating groups that the aromatic carbon is directly bonded to an atom that has lone pair electron)
But it seems the truth is that phenol just behaves as a strong activating group. What is wrong with my deductions?
edit:
This post says phenol actually behaves the same as aniline (according to the first sentence from OP), echoed by this website.
This website and Organic Chemistry 9th edition by Wade Jr. only says aniline fails, but not mentioning phenol.