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Last Friday night, backup goalkeeper Adam Bogdan had his second consecutive howler for the Reds, resulting in an unexpected and unwanted replay against Exeter City. On Sunday the Liverpool brass responded by picking up the phone and recalling youth prospect Danny Ward from his season-long loan at Aberdeen. Then on Wednesday night, Ward found himself on the bench against Arsenal, usurping Bogdan's spot.
Things can happen fast in the world of football. Ward will likely make his second bench appearance on Sunday against Manchester United, and his Liverpool debut against Exeter on Wednesday--all in the span of a week and a half. Bogdan, in turn, will likely find his name and face on the side of a milk carton before too long.
"I got the call on the Sunday," Ward explained to the club's official website. "I'd just had a game on the Saturday against Hearts in the Scottish Cup, so I was shocked but it was something that came around really quick. I literally that night jumped on a plane and was in training [at Melwood] the next day. It's been a whirlwind couple of days. It was nice being back at such a special ground but slightly strange after playing every week since the start of the season in Scotland."
The 22-year-old goalkeeper has impressed in Scotland's top-flight, keeping 10 clean sheets in 21 league appearances, and 12 in 29 for all competitions. Whether Ward can challenge Simon Mignolet for the top spot is another question entirely, and one that Ward tried to avoid.
"Obviously it would be nice to try and get a game in any competition for this club. But as I said, take it day by day, work hard and catch the eye. [I've] just [got to] keep an open mind, train as hard as I can. I know it's a bit of an old cliche, but take one day and one session at a time and see what comes around.
"I think [the manager] is just expecting me to come back and obviously challenge with Simon and Adam and train as hard as I can, like I have done ever since I signed for Liverpool, and hopefully [I will] catch the eye."
I don't know if he's good enough for the Premier League, but Ward is already spouting cliches like a veteran. Below is a video featuring some of his outstanding saves for Aberdeen this season: