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Liverpool head into another demanding fixture list with a glaring issue at right back, and Arne Slot’s stance on Calvin Ramsay continues to invite scrutiny. Injuries to Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley have left the squad light in a specialist role that normally demands consistency and rhythm, yet Ramsay remains on the fringes.
The Scottish defender, now 22, has featured only once for Liverpool this season, that appearance coming in the Carabao Cup defeat to Crystal Palace in October. Since then, the pathway into the starting XI has been blocked despite a run of games where options have been stretched. Joe Gomez’s fitness remains uncertain ahead of the midweek trip to Sunderland, while Dominik Szoboszlai, recently used as a makeshift right back, is suspended following his weekend red card.
In practical terms, the situation places Ramsay as the only natural senior right back currently available, which makes the ongoing reluctance to select him all the more notable.
Arne Slot Reaffirms Position in Press Conference
Slot addressed the issue directly in his pre match briefing and, rather than soften his earlier view, he reiterated it. “In general if you don’t win a game, the players who aren’t playing become the best players in the squad. That’s the same everywhere in the world.
“This is an example of that 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.”
Photo: IMAGO
Those comments follow similar remarks last month when the Liverpool head coach suggested he had better options in the position. The messaging has been consistent, even if circumstances have shifted around him.
Calvin Ramsay’s Standing Raises Questions
From a squad management perspective, it is reasonable to assume the coaching staff see Ramsay daily in training and assess readiness accordingly. Introducing a player with limited senior minutes into what could be a hostile environment at the Stadium of Light carries risk, particularly in a high tempo match.
Still, Liverpool’s current depth chart at right back looks thin, and public dismissal of a fit specialist inevitably prompts debate. Ramsay has made just three senior appearances for the club, yet the absence of alternatives would appear to create a window for involvement, even if only as a short term solution.
There is also a contrast in historical messaging. During his time at Anfield, Jurgen Klopp described Ramsay as an “exceptional talent”, a label that set expectations about long term development. Slot’s approach, focused on immediate reliability, suggests the player remains outside the trusted core for now.
For Ramsay, the challenge is clear. Training ground performances, adaptability, and patience often shape careers as much as matchday opportunities. For Liverpool, the calculus is equally straightforward, results remain the primary currency.
Whether this episode becomes a turning point for Calvin Ramsay or a footnote in a congested season will depend on injuries, form, and the manager’s evolving assessment. For now, Arne Slot has made his position unmistakably clear.
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