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Arne Slot brutally tells Liverpool hopeful he isn't playing despite injury woes
Feb 10 2026 13:10 · By Phil Haigh · 43 Reads
Liverpool boss Arne Slot clearly does not rate one of his players (Picture: Getty Images)
Arne Slot says he has no intention of turning to Calvin Ramsay, despite Liverpool ’s injury woes at right-back.
The Reds travel to take on Sunderland on Wednesday night and do so with a number of selection problems in defence.
Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley , the first and second choice right-backs in the squad, are both out injured, while the stand-in on that side of the back four, Dominik Szoboszlai , is suspended.
Joe Gomez could return from injury but remains a doubt, while Slot is also missing centre-back Giovanni Leoni.
The Liverpool boss does actually have a specialist right-back in his squad and available in the shape of Calvin Ramsay.
The Scotland international signed from Aberdeen in 2022, but has made just three first team appearances for the Reds and is yet to make his Premier League debut.
It does not sound like Ramsay will change that on Wednesday, with Slot pretty brutally explaining why he does not intend to pick the Scot.
Calvin Ramsay did appear in the Carabao Cup this season (Picture: Getty Images)
‘In general if you don’t win a game, the players who aren’t playing become the best players in the squad,’ Slot told a press conference on Tuesday when asked about Ramsay. ‘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.’
On his other options at right-back, Slot suggested Gomez could return, while noted that midfielders Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo are options.
Ramsay is a first team player, but clearly not in Slot’s plans (Picture: Getty Images)
‘Joe hasn’t trained with us yet. I’m expecting him today for the first time,’ said the Dutchman.
‘Indeed, if Joe is not ready to start then we are missing four players who have played right-back. Curtis and Wata played in this position so had six different right full-backs.’
Ramsay signed for Liverpool for just over £4m under Jurgen Klopp, but has spent a lot of time away from the club, with loan spells at Preston, Bolton, Wigan and Kilmarnock.