Jurgen Klopp is set to axe Calvin Ramsay and Arthur Melo from Liverpool’s Champions League knockout squad.
That’s according to journalist David Lynch. Writing for Sporting News, Lynch reports that the two players will make way for the fit-again Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Cody Gakpo will also need to be included following his mid-season arrival. But according to Lynch, this will be facilitated by Stefan Bajcetic dropping from the ‘A-list’ to the ‘B-list.’ This reportedly will not affect the young Spaniard’s availability.
It’s claimed that the same can’t be said of either Ramsay or Arthur, though. In disappointing news for both, they’re set to miss out on playing against Real Madrid later this month and beyond. Better news comes in the form of Luis Diaz’s inclusion as he aims to recover from injury.
Arthur’s Anfield chances slip away
This was always going to be a slightly awkward decision for Klopp to make. But in truth, the two names were perhaps rather easy to pick.
Had Ramsay not arrived at Anfield injured this summer, he would likely have been a shoo-in for a spot here. He’s only played twice since he joined the club though. The Reds can make do without him.
Still, the right-back’s omission was surely a tougher call for Klopp than dropping Arthur out.
The Brazilian was always likely to make way even before his lengthy injury absence. Unless he had done something really impressive in the intervening months, Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain would have expected to come back in.
As it turned out, Arthur didn’t do anything. His only appearance for Liverpool so far was in the Champions League defeat against Napoli.
Since then, his attitude has been described as ‘first-class,‘ but his presence in the team has been non-existent.
Right now, there looks to be zero chance of his loan deal being turned into a permanent one.
Given Liverpool’s obvious need for midfield reinforcement this summer though, you never know. If he can get fit, stay fit and perform to a good level between now and May, you can’t say definitely no to Arthur. Should Liverpool’s search for more desirable targets fail to bare fruit, perhaps he’ll get an unlikely second chance. Unlikely, but not impossible.