Liverpool and Tottenham have held talks over a potential exit for Andy Robertson, with Arne Slot calling upon the Scotland captain at half-time against Bournemouth
20:54, 24 Jan 2026
Andy Robertson of Liverpool reacts during the Premier League match against Bournemouth
Andy Robertson of Liverpool reacts during the Premier League match against Bournemouth(Image: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Liverpool boss Arne Slot refused to be drawn on whether Andy Robertson might leave this month amid transfer talks with Tottenham regarding a potential exit for the Scotland captain.
As the Reds lost 3-2 at Bournemouth, Robertson came off the bench at half-time to replace Milos Kerkez — and Slot says he needs as many options available as possible. While the Hungary ace was struggling, the Liverpool boss insisted it was a change he needed to make for other reasons than performance.
"I think I need all my players," Slot told Sky Sports post-match. "Robbo had to come on at half-time. In my opinion, I always knew that, for Milos, another 90 minutes against a very intense Bournemouth side was not a possibility for him.
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"I always knew I had to bring him in, but I already had one substitution in the first half. Then you only have two moments left, so I thought let’s bring Robbo in at half-time to make sure Milos stays available for the rest of the season.
"There are a lot of games to be played. With the players available, I have to manage that as well because the last thing we could need right now is another injury."
While Liverpool could bring Kostas Tsimikas back as cover for Kerkez — and will only sanction an exit for Robertson if it makes sense for all parties — this game was a reminder of the potential for risk in letting the former Hull man leave.
Milos Kerkez prior to the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Liverpool
Milos Kerkez prior to the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Liverpool(Image: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Liverpool failed to control the game in key moments and individual errors proved costly, even when it looked like Dominik Szoboszlai had dragged his side to a point by scoring a great long-range strike.
"It is safe to say a few players of ours ran out of energy," Slot admitted. "I cannot criticize them for that because two days ago we played an away game in Europe.
"Although we were 2-0 down at a certain point, it's a good comeback, although it didn't feel to me that we deserved to be 2-0 down at the moment we were.
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"The players reacted really well. We came back to 2-2 and then I thought it was a very open game where both teams had their chances.
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"They probably [had] even more than us, which shouldn't come as a complete surprise to me knowing that we've played two days before in Marseille.
"For the last four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10 games we've had to play with the same players for the players we had available. Then sometimes a few of them could be at the end of the game a bit tired. I think that's what you could see at the end today as well."
Liverpool hosts Qarabag next in the Champions League. A victory there will guarantee a place in the last-16 without the need for a play-off.