Why Liverpool's U21s are stepping up for pre-Forest training
Liverpool's first-team squad received a boost with the late addition of Calvin Ramsay and two other U21s players as they gear up for their clash with Nottingham Forest. The squad's initial 19 senior players worked out in the gym at the AXA Training Centre before heading onto the pitches for their first training session. However, with only 16 outfielders, three U21s defenders, Ramsay, Josh Davidson, and Terence Miles, joined the team.
The trio warmed up with the academy squad before moving to the first-team pitch for small-sided training drills. While Ramsay could remain on the bench for the trip to Nottingham Forest, Davidson and Miles are unlikely to be considered. Their role in training was to act as additional defenders, allowing Arne Slot's attackers to replicate in-game situations in the absence of injured players.
Despite the return of Joe Gomez, Liverpool's defense remains short-staffed, often requiring U21s call-ups for AXA training sessions. Miles and Davidson are the two oldest available defenders in the squad, making them ideal candidates to test Slot's senior forwards physically.
This strategy was also employed at the end of January when Miles joined first-team training alongside Rhys Williams, 25, and forwards Oakley Cannonier, 21, and Kareem Ahmed, 19. These players were not selected to travel with the U21s for their win over Brighton and stayed to strengthen the senior ranks for the Premier League clash with Newcastle.
Liverpool is expected to consider summer moves for Ramsay, Davidson, and Miles, as they struggle to break into the first-team. Ramsay, in particular, attracted interest from multiple clubs before the January transfer window, but Slot's decision to keep him as defensive cover may change at the end of the season.
