Andy Robertson would be crazy to sign new Liverpool deal after what Arne Slot said
Andy Robertson has had to spend a lot of time sitting on the sidelines which has left him with a decision to make on his Liverpool future.
Arne Slot has had to face a lot of criticism this season with questions about almost every selection he makes in his Liverpool starting XI.
One of which has seen calls for Andy Robertson to be fully restored to the line-up with Milos Kerkez preferred by the Reds boss at left-back in a defence that has look brittle on numerous occasions.
The Hungary international has struggled to replicate his Bournemouth form at either end of the park being caught out of position defensively and failing to make an impact in the final third too. There has never been a criticism of his attitude or desire to impress, however, it is a situation that could see the end of the road for an Anfield great.
Andy Robertson faces Liverpool contract decision
It is easy to understand why Slot wanted to persevere with Kerkez. He knows the Premier League, has faced every winger in it and was in the team of the season last year. On paper, Liverpool signed the perfect replacement for Robertson, but the manager had a couple of options available to him in terms of how to introduce the younger full-back to the starting XI.
One of which was to gradually increase his game time, but Slot chose the “in at the deep-end” approach instead.
Slot is right to have one eye on the future, there is a fear now though that, after sticking by Kerkez through thick and thin, Robertson will no longer be interested in extending his contract and become and even more peripheral figure.
At 31-years old, he himself has claimed that he still has a lot to offer, with a Bosman move to Celtic already reported as being in the pipeline. A throwback performance against Real Madrid demonstrates that the vice-captain is better than the SPFL, for now, at least. Captain of his country, Robertson won’t be short of offers when the time comes and he will want to join someone who can give him more minutes than Slot.
What Slot has said recently about Kerkez
Kerkez isn’t quite Slot’s teacher’s pet, but there is an obvious desire from the manager to get Kerkez up to speed so that he has one less position to worry about, the 22-year old was much improved against West Ham last weekend despite going off injured.
“It was cramp,” said Slot of the need to substitute Kerkez. “The only moment when [Jarrod] Bowen had a chance was when he [Kerkez] was out but that was nothing to do with the full-back that was in. That was the only chance they had and, as a result of that, the only chance Bowen had. A good performance, a good defensive performance from him.
“I think he was attacking-wise a threat a few times in the first half and another time when it didn't lead to a shot on target, but the cut-back cross from him when we overloaded the box. These were all moments where if we are in a better moment of form these moments will lead to more goals.
“Good, but it also maybe tells you something I have emphasised a lot of times, some players need to adapt to the Premier League – and I have emphasised a lot of times the fact some players need to adapt to three games a week. Maybe it is not a surprise that Milos has cramp in the end for two reasons: he is not completely used to that and, second of all, because he puts so much effort in every single time he plays.”
It is a sentence that could have been applied to the equally as raw Robertson when he first signed for Liverpool, but it is the sort of statement that will have the veteran considering his options.