Arne Slot confirms Liverpool star is available for selection against Bournemouth | OneFootball

Liverpool receive timely boost ahead of AFC Bournemouth trip

Liverpool head into their Premier League meeting with AFC Bournemouth with a small but potentially significant piece of good news, as Arne Slot confirmed that Calvin Ramsay will be available for selection this weekend.

The Scottish full-back missed the midweek Champions League win over Marseille, not through injury, but because he was not registered for the league phase squad and is too old for List B. While that absence was administrative rather than physical, it still highlighted just how thin Liverpool are at right-back following Conor Bradley’s season-ending injury.

Slot, speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, outlined the current state of his squad. He suggested that Federico Chiesa remains “50-50” for the trip to the Vitality Stadium after picking up an issue in the warm-up against Marseille, but otherwise reported no new concerns.

More importantly, the Liverpool manager confirmed that Ramsay is back in contention for domestic action after being restricted to the sidelines in Europe.

Photo: IMAGO

Arne Slot outlines squad availability

Slot was asked directly about who would be available for the visit to AFC Bournemouth and who might miss out. The headline, from a Liverpool perspective, was Ramsay’s return to the matchday group.

The right-back has been a regular presence on the bench in recent Premier League fixtures, and while he is unlikely to displace Jeremie Frimpong in the starting eleven, his inclusion offers depth at a time when Liverpool need it.

Slot’s comments come just days after he raised eyebrows by suggesting he had “better options” at right-back than the 22-year-old. That remark was widely interpreted as a warning shot, but his latest update suggests Ramsay remains firmly in the manager’s plans, even if only as cover for now.

Ramsay role in Liverpool squad

Ramsay’s situation is an unusual one. On paper, he is a first-team player, but in reality his opportunities have been extremely limited. He has made only three senior appearances for Liverpool, and most of his recent involvement has come from the substitutes’ bench.

With Frimpong’s injury history this season, there is a sense that Ramsay could yet be called upon sooner rather than later. Liverpool also have the option of making up to three changes to their Champions League squad before the knockout rounds, which could open the door for Ramsay to replace Bradley in the spring.

That scenario becomes more likely if Liverpool choose not to strengthen at right-back in the January window.

AFC Bournemouth match significance

From the outside, the visit to AFC Bournemouth looks like a routine fixture. For Liverpool, however, it carries extra importance. Slot’s side are navigating a congested schedule and need reliable depth across all positions to sustain their title push.

Ramsay may start on the bench again, but his availability matters. Liverpool have seen time and again how quickly peripheral figures can become central to a campaign. One injury or suspension can change the hierarchy overnight.

For Ramsay, the task is simple but demanding. Stay fit, train well, and be ready. Whether he plays five minutes or fifty this weekend, his presence gives Arne Slot another option, and for Liverpool, that flexibility could prove crucial as the season enters its decisive phase.