1 day ago
27
You’ve no doubt heard that Liverpool is missing Trent Alexander-Arnold this season. Plenty of pundits have been quick to point to the former vice-captain’s departure as one of the many factors behind the Reds’ dismal form of late.
There is something to be said for that school of thought, considering Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong have so far struggled to make their impact this season, with neither having yet nailed their audition as Alexander-Arnold’s successor.
It’s not a problem that is exclusive to this year though, with Liverpool having been planning ahead for some years now, and back in 2022, the club thought it hads its answer.
The signing of Calvin Ramsay was heralded as a bit of coup that summer. He had emerged as one of the most sought-after teenagers in Europe after a superb breakout season with Aberdeen, and he was seen as the perfect player to follow in Alexander-Arnold’s footsteps.
Even before he had made his debut for Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp couldn’t hide his excitement at what he’d been given.
"He is an outstanding talent. We scouted him over a lot of games and he did exceptionally well," Klopp said back in September 2022.
"For a young age - the way he plays - he is a real player. He is really involved in everything. He’s a real talent and I am really excited about him.”
Klopp added: "He is outstanding, well-educated, friendly - a really good boy. Now we start working, that’s it. How it is for all of them in that age group: the sky is the limit.”
Ramsay’s remarkable rise would see him make his international debut after just two appearances for the Reds - sadly though, it seemed that limit Klopp had mentioned had arrived much quicker than anyone had anticipated.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
A series of injuries severely hampered him over the following couple of years, and those two appearances back in 2022 remain his only senior games for Liverpool - that may be about to change though.
Ramsay could be handed an unexpected lifeline as the Reds take on Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup later today. With Frimpong out injured and Bradley likely to have to take on the burden of a packed Premier League and Champions League schedule, the Scot could be the answer for Arne Slot.
Having been limited in his appearances over the last couple of years with unsuccessful loans at Preston, Bolton, Wigan and Kilmarnock, Ramsay has stayed put on Merseyside this season, and has actually managed to carve out an important role, having started all but one game in the club’s U21s’ Premier League 2 campaign.
That would appear to earmark him as the next in-line to start as the senior side’s right-back after Bradley and Frimpong, and could earn him a long-awaited return to the first-team at Anfield this evening.
The fact that he was brought off after an hour of the U21s’ 4-1 win over Everton - in which he scored - would also indicate that the stage has been set for Ramsay, and with very few players looking to have their spots nailed down in Slot’s side at the moment, this could be the opportunity the 22-year-old and Klopp anticipated three years ago.
English (US) ·