Kevin Campbell issues Ben Davies claim with Liverpool player on loan at Sheffield United | OneFootball

Icon: Football League World

Football League World

·14 October 2021

Kevin Campbell issues Ben Davies claim with Liverpool player on loan at Sheffield United

Article image:Kevin Campbell issues Ben Davies claim with Liverpool player on loan at Sheffield United

Former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell believes Sheffield United loanee Ben Davies’ future lies away from parent club Liverpool, speaking in an interview with Football Insider.

The 26-year-old first joined Liverpool at the start of February in a permanent £1.6m deal, arriving at Anfield in the midst of a major crisis at centre-back with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all out injured at that point and Davies looking set to be involved for the Reds.


OneFootball Videos


Despite being one of Preston North End’s more talented players, this was a surprise move from Jurgen Klopp’s side, although he was part of Liverpool’s first team as they looked to mitigate the effects of their injury crisis at centre-back.

However, he couldn’t get past the likes of Nat Phillips and Ozan Kabak in the pecking order and failed to make a single appearance for the former Premier League champions before sustaining his own setback, spending the latter few weeks of the 2020/21 season out with a calf issue.

With this and van Dijk, Gomez and Matip all returning in time for pre-season, the 26-year-old’s first-team prospects looked bleak and he was sent out on loan to recently-relegated side Sheffield United in mid-August, where he will be hoping to make an impression and force his way into Jurgen Klopp’s plans for the 2022/23 campaign.

Pundit Kevin Campbell believes his time on Merseyside is already up though, saying in an interview with Football Insider: “I can’t see a future for him at Liverpool.

“Joe Gomez cannot get a game at the moment and he is a quality, England international.

“It is great to hear he wants to knuckle down and make an impression next season but he has to be realistic. You have to look at the strength in depth Liverpool have in that position now. They’re spoilt.

“In the best case scenario, he will be fourth choice. That is the best he can hope for I’m afraid.

“I know it is tough to take because he went there with the best intentions. But he has to play football. He is a talented young man. He has to play regular football.”‘

The Verdict:

Many people would probably agree with Kevin Campbell on this subject.

Although Ben Davies will be hoping to show his importance in a side that will be aiming for promotion back to the Premier League this season, he is unlikely to get back into the first-team picture at Anfield even if he succeeds with the Blades this term considering the likes of van Dijk and Gomez are back.

Even if one or two key central defenders leave between now and the start of the next campaign, you could easily see the Reds investing in new recruits rather than relying on Davies who is yet to make a senior appearance for them.

Campbell is right in saying the 26-year-old is a talented player though and if he can perform well this season, there’s no reason why he can’t play in the Premier League next term, with or without Slavisa Jokanovic’s side.

But at this stage, he’s more likely to be with the South Yorkshire outfit as opposed to Liverpool this time next season, and there’s every chance the former will be able to negotiate a cut-price deal for him.

View publisher imprint