The ultimate time Andy Robertson carried out fewer video video games was his debut season at Anfield, 2023/24 was disrupted by a extreme harm and now there are doubts over his starting place.
The Scot helped the Reds to a strong start this season sooner than the dreaded curse of the worldwide break struck to go away him sidelined for 3 months.
It robbed Jurgen Klopp of one among his most reliable property, and by the purpose he received right here into his private as quickly as additional, the crew had dropped off significantly.
Andy Robertson, 2023/24
Started: 23 (All competitions)On as an alternative: 7Unused sub: 3Targets: 3Assists: 2Total Season Rating: 6.92
The harm that flipped his season on its head
Earlier to the second worldwide break of the season, Robertson started eight of the Reds’ first 11 video video games – sitting out for lower than Europa League and League Cup exploits.
He carried out the entire 90 minutes in all of the abovementioned outings at a time when Klopp had little consistency in his backline with accidents to Ibrahima Konate and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Virgil van Dijk‘s two-game suspension was moreover thrown into that mix early on.
Robertson’s goal throughout the eighty fifth minute at Wolves was massively very important to proceed an unbeaten league start, and he was proving a steady contributor as quickly as additional at left-back, defending Kostas Tsimikas at bay.
At Brighton, the last word sport sooner than he might be sidelined for months, he was faraway from his best, failing to clear the ball from a free-kick allowed Brighton to take one factor from the match.
That journey to the south coast on October 8 was the ultimate time Robertson featured for Liverpool until January 28 – 21 video video games later – having dislocated his shoulder whereas representing Scotland.
He travelled to Dubai for his private warmth local weather teaching camp after two months of rehab in England, all the whereas Joe Gomez and Tsimikas spent additional time throughout the starting XI.
Consistency on the end
The harm robbed the crew of one among their key contributors all through an prolonged, taxing stint of the advertising marketing campaign that seen well being factors mount up all by way of the squad.
It’s understandable, then, why Robertson was a participant who had vitality and appeared up for the fight on the end of the season whereas others found themselves in quicksand.
A few niggles aside, the 30-year-old started 15 of the Reds’ ultimate 25 video video games in all competitions and moved ever nearer to his fixed best all by way of.
Two goals in two video video games in direction of West Ham and Tottenham ensured he equalled his best goal tally on the membership (three), every showcasing his drive from the left of defence into the opposition’s subject.
That’s Robertson at his best, when he can create width, whip balls into the sphere and provide a danger in direction of his reverse amount – giving them one factor to think about as a substitute of the other strategy spherical.
As per FBref, solely three avid gamers in Liverpool’s squad had additional progress carries than Robertson all through all competitions, and solely six had additional progressive passes – no matter his long-term absence.
It showcases his have an effect on in how the Reds assault the world and their opposition, which may’t always be replicated with Gomez or Tsimikas.
He accomplished the advertising marketing campaign as certainly one of many strongest and most fixed avid gamers, a silver lining to his three-month spell on the sidelines that his flame was nonetheless burning by the tip of the advertising marketing campaign.
Robertson is probably going one of many loudest voices throughout the dressing room and a presence you cannot uncover merely wherever, nevertheless how will Arne Slot view him?
Will there be a danger to his starting place?
At 30, Robertson is now on the other facet of the age bracket that the membership don’t typically lengthen new contracts to.
He stays a helpful participant to have and a lively character to keep up throughout the dressing room, nevertheless the model new coach might convey new, youthful, opponents to his shores.
Robertson received’t be pushed out of the start XI, nevertheless debates over whether or not or not the membership might be correct to cash in on him this summer season hint at how his place throughout the crew is altering.
You don’t need an extreme quantity of to alter in a single summer season, and in addition you sense he’s far too worthwhile on and off the pitch to green-light any switch, nevertheless his minutes may dwindle beneath Slot if a model new left-back arrives.
His selection for transient passes will swimsuit the Dutchman’s system, though, and in addition you sense he’ll in all probability be key in serving to the transition throughout the post-Jurgen Klopp interval.
Best second: The nice late winner at Wolves.
Worst second: Dreadful decision to let Brighton‘s free-kick fly earlier him for the equaliser.
Place subsequent season: Competing with youthful counterpart nevertheless stays the center of the crew.
