How do you play Malphite top?

I've been spamming Malphite top lane trying to learn how to play him and I run into problems even when I face champions that he "counters."

His early game is so weak, I feel that it's weaker than every other champion in the game. Therefore I always get out traded. There is no way to get around trading in lane phase. If you don't hit back, you get further behind and miss cs.

Due to his weak early game, he can't win against champions with weak early game unless they make a mistake, and champions with strong early game will either kill him or zone him. And it's not like if he survives lane, he becomes a monster. His scaling doesn't justify how weak he is early on. His damage stays Leona tier, and the only thing he's really good at is teamfighting.

update- it is impossible to win on this champ