The final time Andy Robertson performed fewer video games was his debut season at Anfield, 2023/24 was disrupted by a critical damage and now there are doubts over his beginning place.
The Scot helped the Reds to a powerful begin this season earlier than the dreaded curse of the worldwide break struck to go away him sidelined for 3 months.
It robbed Jurgen Klopp of one in every of his most dependable belongings, and by the point he got here into his personal as soon as extra, the staff had dropped off considerably.
Andy Robertson, 2023/24
Began: 23 (All competitions)
On in its place: 7
Unused sub: 3
Targets: 3
Assists: 2
Total Season Ranking: 6.92
The damage that flipped his season on its head
Previous to the second worldwide break of the season, Robertson began eight of the Reds’ first 11 video games – sitting out for less than Europa League and League Cup exploits.
He performed the total 90 minutes in all 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 additionally thrown into that blend early on.
Robertson’s aim within the eighty fifth minute at Wolves was vastly important to proceed an unbeaten league begin, and he was proving a strong contributor as soon as extra at left-back, retaining Kostas Tsimikas at bay.
At Brighton, the ultimate sport earlier than he can be sidelined for months, he was removed from his greatest, failing to clear the ball from a free-kick allowed Brighton to take one thing from the match.
That journey to the south coast on October 8 was the final time Robertson featured for Liverpool till January 28 – 21 video games later – having dislocated his shoulder whereas representing Scotland.
He travelled to Dubai for his personal heat climate coaching camp after two months of rehab in England, all of the whereas Joe Gomez and Tsimikas spent extra time within the beginning XI.
Consistency on the finish
The damage robbed the staff of one in every of their key contributors throughout an extended, taxing stint of the marketing campaign that noticed health points mount up all through the squad.
It’s comprehensible, then, why Robertson was a participant who had power and seemed up for the combat on the finish of the season whereas others discovered themselves in quicksand.
A couple of niggles apart, the 30-year-old began 15 of the Reds’ final 25 video games in all competitions and moved ever nearer to his constant greatest all through.
Two targets in two video games towards West Ham and Tottenham ensured he equalled his greatest aim tally on the membership (three), each showcasing his drive from the left of defence into the opposition’s field.
That’s Robertson at his greatest, when he can create width, whip balls into the field and provide a menace towards his reverse quantity – giving them one thing to consider as a substitute of the opposite manner round.
As per FBref, solely three gamers in Liverpool’s squad had extra progress carries than Robertson throughout all competitions, and solely six had extra progressive passes – regardless of his long-term absence.
It showcases his affect in how the Reds assault the area and their opposition, which can’t at all times be replicated with Gomez or Tsimikas.
He completed the marketing campaign as one of many strongest and most constant gamers, a silver lining to his three-month spell on the sidelines that his flame was nonetheless burning by the top of the marketing campaign.
Robertson is without doubt one of the loudest voices within the dressing room and a presence you can’t discover simply anyplace, however how will Arne Slot view him?
Will there be a menace to his beginning place?
At 30, Robertson is now on the opposite facet of the age bracket that the membership don’t sometimes prolong new contracts to.
He stays a useful participant to have and a energetic persona to maintain within the dressing room, however the brand new coach might convey new, youthful, competitors to his shores.
Robertson is not going to be pushed out of the beginning XI, however debates over whether or not the membership can be proper to money in on him this summer time trace at how his function within the staff is altering.
You don’t want an excessive amount of to change in a single summer time, and also you sense he’s far too helpful on and off the pitch to green-light any transfer, however his minutes could dwindle beneath Slot if a brand new left-back arrives.
His choice for brief passes will swimsuit the Dutchman’s system, although, and also you sense he shall be key in serving to the transition within the post-Jurgen Klopp period.
Greatest second: The pleasant late winner at Wolves.
Worst second: Dreadful choice to let Brighton‘s free-kick fly previous him for the equaliser.
Position subsequent season: Competing with youthful counterpart however stays the guts of the staff.
