Arne Slot has delivered a blunt assessment of Liverpool’s current standing, admitting that anything less than Champions League qualification by May is “unacceptable.” However, his task has been made significantly harder by a growing injury list. The list has left the right side of his defence in tatters.
Liverpool’s demoralising 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday had barely concluded before Arne Slot had to pivot toward a fresh tactical nightmare.
As the dust settles on a result that left the reigning champions four points adrift of the Champions League places, the focus has shifted from dropped points to a decimated right flank. Among Premier League sides, Liverpool is feeling the pressure.
When Liverpool walk out at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday evening, they face a Sunderland side yet to taste defeat on home soil this season.
For Slot, the challenge transcends silencing a hostile Wearside crowd. He must find someone, anyone capable of standing at right-back, to prevent a season-defining collapse. The situation for Liverpool is tense.
The right-back nightmare: four options unavailable
With Jeremie Frimpong (hamstring) and Conor Bradley (knee) taking up long-term residency in the treatment room, and Dominik Szoboszlai serving a one match suspension following his late red card against City, logic suggested a golden opportunity for Calvin Ramsay.
The 22-year-old Scotsman remains the only “natural” right-back in the senior setup. However, despite Ramsay regularly wearing the armband for the Under-21s, Slot offered a blunt assessment of the youngster’s standing during his pre-match briefing. It’s another difficult moment for Liverpool.
“In general, if you don’t win a game, the players who are not playing become the best players in the squad,” Slot remarked with a trace of characteristic Dutch pragmatism. “This is an example of that. I just want to protect all my players. I’ve chosen other players until now, and that’s what I’m going to do tomorrow.”
"In general, if you don't win, the players who are not playing become the best players in the squad."
Arne Slot on Calvin Ramsay's lack of game time 🤝 pic.twitter.com/Pv0aHLGDgE
— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) February 10, 2026
Slot’s “protection” feels more like a definitive judgment. Having made just one senior appearance this season, a losing effort against Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup, Ramsay has watched from the bench for 10 consecutive league games. Wednesday will almost certainly make it 11. This leaves the Scotsman with a harsh reality check regarding his future under the Dutchman. Clearly, Liverpool have reached a turning point.
The Calvin Ramsay snub
Consequently, the only hope for a traditional defensive solution rests on the shoulders of Joe Gomez. The England international has been sidelined with a hip issue since the Bournemouth fixture, and his absence has been felt during this winter slump. Moreover, Liverpool fans are hoping this injury crisis can be turned around soon.
Slot confirmed that Gomez has yet to rejoin the main group, though he left a sliver of hope for a midweek return. “Joe has not trained with us yet,” Slot admitted. “I’m expecting him to train with us for the first time today. Indeed, if Joe is not ready to start, then we are missing four players who have played in that position.”
Emergency Midfield Solutions: Jones or Endo?
If Gomez fails his fitness test, Slot must turn to his midfield anchors. Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo sit at the top of the emergency list. Liverpool’s squad depth is being tested.
Jones offers technical proficiency and the ability to “invert” into central areas, but he lacks defensive intuition in a traditional back four. Conversely, Endo brings the grit and positional discipline, yet he lacks the recovery speed to handle Sunderland’s transitional pace and the directness of their wide players. This could be an issue within itself. Even for Liverpool, finding balance across the pitch is a challenge.
Beyond the primary candidates, the squad list offers a few ” In case of emergency” names with surprisingly thin resumes in the role.
Andy Robertson once registered a right-back assist for Queen’s Park back in 2013, while Milos Kerkez briefly operated on the right during his developmental days at AC Milan.
However, Slot knows that relying on decade-old Scottish League Two data or youth-team experiments is a recipe for disaster at a ground as unforgiving as the Stadium of Light. Even Liverpool can’t afford such risks.
“The margins are indeed very small,” Slot warned, reflecting on how quickly the gap to the top four can widen. Relying on Robertson or Kerkez to switch flanks would weaken the left side. It also leaves the right vulnerable to Sunderland’s Regis Le Bris-inspired attacking patterns.
Ultimately, the quickest route back to winning ways for Liverpool runs through a significant selection minefield. The defeat to Manchester City did more than just cost points. In fact, it stripped the squad of its defensive depth at the worst possible moment.
Furthermore, Slot’s refusal to trust Ramsay sends a clear message about the standards required at Anfield. He understands that “close to perfection” is the only acceptable metric now. This is especially true with Liverpool trailing four points behind fifth-placed Chelsea.
Failing to patch this defensive leak on Wednesday could turn what Slot calls an “unacceptable” lack of Champions League football into a full-blown catastrophe.
For Slot, the experiment ends at kick-off. The performance of his makeshift right-back will likely dictate whether Liverpool’s European hopes remain alive. If not, they could fade into the Wearside night.