Liverpool star's journey from forgotten man to potential Arne Slot savior

With Liverpool down to just six first-team defenders, Arne Slot could have to be creative with his team selection. Much like in the 2020/21 campaign, that could mean relying on a previously marginalized figure

Calvin Ramsay could have a significant role to play for Liverpool ins the second half of the season(Image: )

After three largely unproductive seasons at Liverpool, Calvin Ramsay could never have envisaged the opportunities his fourth year on Merseyside would offer.

The right-back’s Liverpool career has not panned out as he or others would have hoped, and Ramsay is yet to match the high expectations that accompanied his 2022 transfer from Aberdeen.

The Reds paid just under £5 million ($7M), a club record fee for Aberdeen, for a player voted Young Player of the Year in the Scottish top tier in the previous campaign, and there was belief he would prove to be a reliable long-term replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold.

But after playing twice for the first team, his first campaign came to a premature end in February after he underwent knee surgery. Indeed, injuries have been a recurring theme in Ramsay’s time at Liverpool, in addition to four underwhelming loan spells, the last of which was at Kilmarnock last year.

Yet, somewhat surprisingly, after returning to Liverpool last summer, a decision was made for Ramsay to remain with the club, and the lack of first-team defensive options has seen the 22-year-old play an increasingly prominent role this season.

Ramsay was drafted into the team for a Carabao Cup tie against Crystal Palace in October, earning praise from Arne Slot after the game despite the 3-0 loss. That was just his first Liverpool appearance since November 2022.

Since then, Ramsay has been named in the last seven matchday squads, and with Conor Bradley’s injury further reducing Slot’s depleted numbers, he could be in line for more minutes in the coming months.

Ramsay was selected for the Carabao Cup tie against Palace(Image: Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Speaking to Liverpool’s website, the Scot said: “I spoke with my agent and the club at the start of the season and, off the back of the loans that I've had, the best solution was to stay around the club here, play with the U21s, get back to full fitness and get opportunities with the first team like I've got.

“I've trained with them [the first team], played against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup. That was the plan really and I think it's worked out perfectly because I feel fit, I feel good training with the first team and hopefully it puts me in a good position now.

“Obviously, after a few loan spells where I didn't play too much, to be back involved and training with the first team is good. It's good for my development to be around world-class players.”

Ramsay could have a prominent role to play for the remainder of the season(Image: Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

That Liverpool has opted to conduct an interview with Ramsay is telling. At this stage, despite having just six senior defenders available and one right-back, there are no plans to make January additions.

Not unlike Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams during Liverpool’s last title defense, Ramsay could provide an unlikely but vital contribution as the Reds seek to claim a top-four place.

The youngster referenced learning from Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong in training and hopes to make the most of his opportunities when they arise.

“I've always believed in myself, knew what I can do and I just knew I need to keep working hard and when I got an opportunity, like the Palace game, to take it,” he said. ”I think I did take it, so hopefully I can just keep going and maybe get some more opportunities.”

Approaching four years on from his Aberdeen exit, it will come as little surprise to see Ramsay make his Premier League debut in the coming weeks.