Sport

Andy Robertson is facing a fight for his Liverpool future.

Liverpool went top of the Premier League table with a comeback win over Brighton on Saturday that had the Anfield crowd dreaming of a title challenge. Andy Robertson, however, watched it from the bench having been replaced in Arne Slot’s lineup by Kostas Tsimikas. He might have to get comfortable on the sidelines.

Robertson struggled badly in matches against Arsenal and Chelsea last month. Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke turned the Scotland international inside out with Robertson a shadow of the aggressive and spirited left back who made himself an indispensable member of the Reds’ team over a number of seasons.

This led Slot to favour Tsimikas from the start against Brighton, who were overwhelmed by numbers through the centre. Of course, the Greek has been rotated in and out of the Liverpool lineup before, but this time feels different. Robertson is facing a fight for his Liverpool future and there’s no guarantee the 30-year-old will be able to force his way back into the side.

Slot has openly talked about Robertson’s struggles this season. While the Scot started the campaign as Liverpool’s first-choice left back, he has been targeted by opposition wingers in several matches. Now entering the twilight of his career, Robertson is paying for the yard of pace he has lost – and for a series of injuries that have disrupted his 2024.

“I think his current situation is what you can expect if a player misses out on pre-season and a new manager comes in – you miss quite a lot,” said Slot when asked about Robertson’s performances so far this season. “You have to go into a programme where you’ve missed the base tactically, when it comes to us [a new management team], and physically as well.

“Then, when you start to play, maybe he thinks a bit too much because there are not many things different but in some situations we ask for a bit different positioning from a left-back. For me, he is a bit in that period of time where he is thinking: ‘OK, I’m here now, should I be here or there?’ The moment he stops thinking but is just acting on what we expect he will be fine.”

It’s not just that Robertson is struggling. The choice of Tsimikas at left back allows Liverpool to invert another player into the centre of the pitch where Slot wants control. While the Greek international is comfortable operating through the middle, the same is not true of Robertson who wants to play high and wide. Modern full backs are expected to have more to their game.

Slot has hit the ground running as Liverpool manager, but his team remains a work-in-progress. The Dutchman is still finding the right balance in key areas of the pitch. Had Liverpool signed a new number six in the summer, Robertson might have provided some much-needed width. As it is, Tsimikas is helping give the Reds total control in midfield.

For years, Robertson has embodied the best of the Fenway Sports Group (FSG) era for Liverpool. Signed from Hull City in 2014 for just £8m, the Scot was identified by the scouting model that also led the Reds to Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and other undervalued players who would go on to become legends on Merseyside.

Now, though, Liverpool are entering a new era following the departure of Jurgen Klopp. Slot has made micro-adjustments to keep the Reds moving forward with a potential Premier League title challenge in the offing this season. One of those micro-adjustments, however, could cost Robertson.