Liverpool already signed ideal Trent Alexander-Arnold back-up who can show his value next season

The last few months of the season have seen Liverpool’s revival, and that resurgence has largely been thanks to Jürgen Klopp’s clever tweak to shift Trent Alexander-Arnold into a more central midfield role in order to establish control in the middle.

Alexander-Arnold has thrived in that role showcasing what he does best both on and off the ball with his reading of the game and his creative distribution that allows him to slice through defenses like a knife through butter.

He’s also been able to dominate and dictate possession for Liverpool, regularly registering the most completed passes per game, leaving the opposition chasing red shirts and their shadows.

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But Alexander-Arnold is not the only one who is suited for this role at Liverpool. Klopp already has an ideal back-up waiting on the sidelines in Calvin Ramsay, should Alexander-Arnold need a rest or pick up an injury.

The Scotsman hasn’t quite been able to showcase his talent for the Reds in his first season. But the style with which he played the full-back role at Aberdeen was eerily similar to Alexander-Arnold, so much so that Liverpool.com highlighted his suitability for Liverpool even before there were rumors linking him with a move to Anfield.

In a red shirt at Liverpool, Ramsay has shown flickers of his potential. He scored on his first appearance for the club’s U21 side, and netted another on his third start. In total, in just five games, he scored two goals at academy level.

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But perhaps the best demonstration of his talent came in his solitary start in the Liverpool first team against Derby County in the League Cup.

Ramsay was tremendous that night, playing the full-back role in the kind of style Alexander-Arnold would have been proud of. He also did so in the kind of style that Alexander-Arnold is now playing, in a more central role.

That night against Derby, Ramsay recorded a whopping 107 passes from 114 attempted, with 19 passes into the final third, and six into the penalty area, while completing two out of his three dribbles and also winning two out of his three defensive duels.

Alexander-Arnold has only been able to complete more passes than Ramsay this season once in a game, against Leeds United, when he was playing in his more central midfield role. This also applies to passes into the final third with Alexander-Arnold hitting 20 in the Reds’ 6-1 victory.

Calvin Ramsay has had an injury ridden season for Liverpool.

(Image: MB Media/Getty Images)

And since moving to his new role Alexander-Arnold has averaged between 10-20 passes into the final third per game. Impressively, Ramsay was able to produce these numbers while playing in a more ‘traditional’ full-back role.

Obviously, it’s a small sample against Championship-quality opposition, but these are promising omens for Ramsay’s career at Liverpool if Klopp decides to persist with Alexander-Arnold’s new role.

Ramsay hasn’t been very fortunate with injuries this season, which has seen him almost forgotten around Anfield circles, but if he can escape his injury problems, there is no reason why he wouldn’t be able to learn the Alexander-Arnold role and make it his own.

He has all the tools to be just as effective in that position, and with time he will be a fitting addition to Klopp’s squad.

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James Milner’s Liverpool parting message as Jordan Henderson laments’end of an era’

Liverpool face a huge summer transfer window to replace key figures such as James Milner, with captain Jordan Henderson marking his departure by saying that it’s the “end of an era”

Pictures from the final day of the Premier League

James Milner has hinted that Liverpool fans can expect more good times in the near future after playing his final game for the club on Sunday.

Captain Jordan Henderson says that it’s the “end of an era” with long-time team-mate Milner, 37, departing alongside Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Milner, however, seems to reckon that Reds supporters won’t have to wait very long to witness more of the success which he enjoyed during his eight-year stint.

After playing all 90 minutes of Liverpool’s madcap 4-4 draw with Southampton on the final day of the Premier League season, the long-serving midfielder – who’s set to join Brighton on a free transfer when his deal at Anfield expires next month – sent a parting message to fans.

“I’m sure it’s not the end of the era now, but to be part of the building for this team, it’s fantastic,” Milner told the BBC.

“Obviously it’s a weird feeling when you’ve been somewhere for so long and shared the times I’ve had with this dressing room and these fans, I had an amazing send off from them today.

“It’s been like that ever since I have been there. It’s obviously a strange feeling but all good things come to an end. I’ve had an amazing time here, achieved a lot, but it has to end at some point, unfortunately.”

James Milner waved goodbye to Liverpool at Southampton

ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

The former Manchester City, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Leeds star was given a fond farewell by the section of adoring away supporters at St Mary’s on Sunday.

A large banner reading ‘Milner 7 legend’ was unfurled and the veteran posted a photo of it on social media with the caption: “Always a privilege to play for you and a pleasure to enjoy success with you. Thanks for everything. YNWA.”

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Milner and the three others following him out of the Anfield exit door were then thanked by Liverpool skipper Henderson, who tweeted: “The end of an era. Shared some of the best moments of my life with these lads.

“Memories and a brotherhood that will last a lifetime. Good luck to you all on your journey, it’s been an amazing ride. Massive thank you to the fans for your support this season.”

Earlier this month, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp summed up his feelings on Milner. “He knows how highly I value him,” Klopp said on Friday.

“He is an incredible part of this team and I would love to work together with him even longer.

“I said a couple of times nothing positive that happened in the last seven and a half years would have happened without James Milner.”