Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp has been handed back-up solution ahead of Tottenham clash | Football | Sport
The return of Jurgen Klopp’s relentless injury dilemmas has contributed to Liverpool’s tumultuous season. However, a prominent frailty in the Reds’ squad could be solved after the emergence of a new face before the Kop in Tuesday’s 2-0 Champions League win against Napoli.
Several first-team stars have suffered injury lay-offs this term, while others have been forced to play more than they should as a direct result of absences. One of those suffering badly from being overworked is Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has endured sticky form with few options to recover to help recapture his best output.
For the majority of the 2022/23 campaign, Klopp has had to rely on Alexander-Arnold, and he’s been unable to take him from under the spotlight of scrutiny. When the 24-year-old right-back has been rested or dropped, Joe Gomez and James Milner have been his primary two understudies.
That’s because 19-year-old Calvin Ramsay, who joined in a £6.5million from Aberdeen in the summer, has battled his own injury woes. But the exciting teenager made his Liverpool debut against Napoli and showed he was more than capable of stepping into the spotlight when needed.
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Ramsay replaced Alexander-Arnold with 13 minutes to spare and didn’t look out of place in Europe’s greatest club competition. While on the hallowed Anfield turf, he maintained a 100 per cent pass accuracy, made one clearance, drew a foul, completed his one attempted long ball and won his sole ground duel.
Klopp will hope he can utilise Ramsay as he does so efficiently with Kostas Tsimikas, who acts as Andrew Robertson’s cover at left-back. The Scotsman could be crucial in helping Alexander-Arnold’s revival by providing competition and replacing him for a rest during matches, as he did against Napoli.
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