VIRGIL van Dijk has predicted Scottish right back Calvin Ramsay will make his Liverpool breakthrough soon – if he continues to learn from England internationalist Trent Alexander-Arnold in training.
Ramsay has not featured for the Anfield giants since his record-breaking £4.2m transfer from Aberdeen back in June.
The 19-year-old has been sidelined with a back injury and Reds manager Jurgen Klopp has been wary about playing his summer signing due to his age.
However, the Scotland Under-21 player was named on the Liverpool bench for the first time on Tuesday night when the six-time European champions played Rangers in the Champions League on Merseyside.
Former Celtic centre half Van Dijk, who helped last season’s beaten finalists to record a comfortable 2-0 triumph and take a step closer to the last 16, has been impressed by the youngster.
The Netherlands captain believes he will benefit from working with Alexander-Arnold, who opened the scoring with a stunning first-half free-kick, and will join him in the first team at some point soon.
“I have seen him more outside of the training pitch than on the training pitch,” he said. “But so far what I have known of him is that he is a good boy.
“He wants to work, he is learning each and every day from one of the best right backs in the country. He learns how we want to play, what we expect from a right back in our way of playing.
“He needs time, but his time will come. I am not worried that. But he has been very positive towards everyone.”
Meanwhile, Van Dijk has confessed that he is looking forward to playing at Ibrox for the first time in the Group A rematch with Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side in Govan next Wednesday night.
The Dutch defender only featured in one Old Firm match during his two years in Scotland – a League Cup semi-final at Hampden which Ronny Deila’s side won 2-0 – due to Rangers being in the lower leagues.
“I never played at Ibrox during my time in Scotland, actually,” he said. “But going back to Scotland, I have great memories there. I had two seasons there and loved my time there.
“It will be good to be back there. But the focus will be on winning the game and playing a good game.
“They will have the fans there so it will make a big difference, especially at the beginning of the game. I don’t think Napoli scored until the 55th minute, so that shows you something.
“It’s going to be tough, especially in the beginning. But it’s also a game we should look forward to – after this weekend.”
