Andy Robertson is far from his best and has not reached top level in the last year
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By LEWIS STEELE
Published: 07:07 EST, 15 December 2024 | Updated: 08:33 EST, 15 December 2024
A 'Robbo' galloping down the left flank at Anfield like a gazelle, creating chances for his team-mates at will and keeping a top forward relatively quiet at the other end. Nothing new for Liverpool fans.
Except on Saturday, this was not Andy Robertson but Fulham's Antonee Robinson. Say the names quickly and they sound the same.
With the Scotland captain sent off after 17 minutes for a tug on Harry Wilson when the last man back — minutes after deflecting a shot into his own goal — Robertson was left to watch from afar as Robinson put in a barnstorming display with two assists to fire Fulham to a point.
Marco Silva, the Cottagers boss, was effusive in his praise for the all-action American, saying: 'What a performance. It's difficult to express in words. This season he is so decisive. He was brave, assertive and aggressive in the right way when he came up against Mohamed Salah.
'He was up and down every time and he's one of the greatest in our dressing room with the way he works and the way he is playing.'
Asked if Robinson, who captained Fulham, is the best left back in the league on current form, Silva added: 'You are asking a Fulham manager but of course I am going to say yes.
Andy Robertson had an afternoon to forget in Liverpool's pulsating draw with Fulham
Robertson was unable to prevent Andreas Pereira from opening the scoring at Anfield
He was then given a straight red card for bringing down Harry Wilson when through on goal
'I don't want to talk too much about him because I know in January the same story is going to follow about Robinson! If he's the best or not, that's not for me to decide, my players are always the best!'
This must have been tough for the home fans to watch, though, as their own left back is far from his best and has not reached his top level in the last 12 months.
Social media warriors will have you believe Robertson is finished at the top level, but this is not the case. It is obvious, though, that the 30-year-old is seeing mistakes creep into his game more often – and left back is a position Liverpool will look to upgrade in the coming transfer windows.
Robinson, 27, has more assists than any Premier League defender since the start of last season. Born in Milton Keynes, the USA international – he qualifies through his father – started life at Everton but had to drop down to Bolton and Wigan before fighting back up to this level.
This season at least, it is a challenge to find a better left back in the Premier League. Certainly not Robertson, Manchester City's Josko Gvardiol has jittered in recent weeks while the same can be said about Marc Cucurella at Chelsea.
But it is unsure whether he would be a serious target due to Liverpool's desire to sign players in a slightly younger age bracket. He will be 28 when next season starts and, for the money Fulham will surely quote, the Reds hierarchy may look elsewhere.
A more realistic option for a left-back signing, and a player whose name has cropped up many times, is Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez, the 21-year-old who is good mates with compatriot and Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai.
It is believed Slot was fond on Kerkez, then at AC Milan, when he was managing AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands. Another thing worth noting is that Liverpool's sporting director, Richard Hughes, signed the left back for his former club Bournemouth before his move to Anfield this year.
Fulham's Antonee Robinson put in a barnstorming display and kept Mohamed Salah quiet
Arne Slot is an admirer of Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez
Rayan Ait-Nouri is a possible Liverpool target
Another possibility could be Wolves' Rayan Ait-Nouri, while top Premier League clubs will be keeping an eye on Bayern Munich's 24-year-old Alphonso Davies given his contract is set to expire in the summer.
None of this is to say Robertson's days are indeed numbered at Anfield. He still has a lot to give and told reporters last month how he wanted to 'prove people wrong' after fans have questioned him for what he reckons was the first time in his career.
Liverpool also have an able deputy in Kostas Tsimikas, though the Greece international is injured at the moment. And the elephant in any room when it comes to squad planning is whether the likes of out-of-contract Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah stay put.
But Robinson's swashbuckling display for Fulham has given Reds fans a reason to reminisce of the days their own left back did just that every week. Robertson is a Liverpool legend but needs to bounce back after being at fault too many times in recent months.