Arne Slot has confirmed Calvin Ramsay will not start against Sunderland, even though Liverpool’s top four right-back choices are all unavailable.
There have been continued calls for Ramsay to come into contention as Liverpool struggle for natural right-back options without Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong.
With Joe Gomez still not fully fit and Dominik Szoboszlai now suspended for the trip to Sunderland, those have been amplified as Slot faces a decision over which of Curtis Jones or Wataru Endo to start.
That comes with the head coach confirming he will not consider Ramsay as a starting option in a brutal update on Tuesday.
“I think in general if you don’t win a game, the players who are not playing become the best players in the squad,” he said when asked about Ramsay’s chances as the only natural right-back available.
“That is the same I think everywhere in the world.
“So if the players who are starting are not winning, then the manager could have always better chosen another one.
“I think this is an example of this as well.
“I just want to protect all my players. I’ve chosen other players until now and that’s also what I’m going to do tomorrow.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, January 20, 2026: Liverpool's Joe Gomez (L) and captain Virgil van Dijk during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Olympique de Marseille and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jessica Hornby/Propaganda)
There remains a slim chance that Gomez will be able to start at the Stadium of Light, with the 28-year-old due to return to training for the first time in a fortnight.
As he ran through his remaining right-back options earlier in his pre-match press conference, Slot completely overlooked Ramsay, who impressed in his only start against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup.
“Joe has not trained with us yet, I’m expecting him to train with us today for the first time,” he told reporters at the AXA Training Centre.
“And indeed if Joe’s not ready to start then we’re missing four players who have played in that position.
“But Curtis and Wata also played in that position this year, so we’ve had six different right-backs this season.”