Rewind only a few short weeks, and it had seemed as though there was no way back for Andy Robertson at Liverpool.
The veteran left-back appeared to be on the verge of joining Tottenham Hotspur having failed to adjust to a new role as back-up to Milos Kerkez.
Fast forward to Wednesday evening at the Stadium of Light, and Robertson was putting in his best performance for quite some time. The secret, it seems, is something the Scotsman himself might be loath to admit: time out of the team.
Change my mind: Liverpool would be CRAZY to let Konate leave 😣
He is back to his best!
Ibrahima Konate battles with Brian Brobbey during Liverpool's Premier League match against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light (Credit: Getty Images/Stu Forster).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Stu Forster
Arne Slot made the fairly bold decision to sideline Robertson and use Kerkez almost exclusively as Liverpool‘s starting left-back. Before Wednesday, the Hungarian had started the Reds’ last six Premier League matches, with Robertson totalling zero minutes in big games against Arsenal, Newcastle and Man City.
While the 31-year-old is clearly far from pleased at being left out more regularly than ever before, Wednesday’s showing was a sign that it is actually doing him the world of good.
Andy Robertson benefitting from rest
Hungry, passionate and committed, Robertson is the kind of player who will always hate sitting on the bench.
Nevertheless, he is not a veteran just yet, if he looks after himself properly he could easily play for the next four or five years.
Andy Robertson pictured in possession during Liverpool's Premier League match against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
READ MORE: Wataru Endo may have played his last game for Liverpool after Arne Slot’s injury diagnosis
The one thing stopping him from doing that is simple overuse. He was run into the ground for years under Jurgen Klopp, playing every single game in a relentless, high energy team.
Marauding up and down the left side, there were few players who got through as much work as Robertson. It was little wonder that that had begun to catch up with him by the time he was just 30.
While he may not agree, if he had continued to do the same under Slot, his form would have suffered and his career could potentially have been on a downward trajectory.
Unpopular opinion: Dominik Szoboszlai’s importance to Liverpool is massively overblown 🫨
The Reds have won 2/2 matches he's missed this season…
Dominik Szoboszlai covers his face after missing a chance during Liverpool's Premier League match against Aston Villa at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/Liverpool FC).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Liverpool FC
Instead, as the Sunderland showing appeared to prove, Robertson is able to look more like his old self when asked to start every so often rather than every week.
Liverpool must keep Robertson at Anfield
As Robertson enters the final few months of his Liverpool contract, most supporters will be expecting him to leave at the end of the season.
Indeed, the decision on that front appears to be up to the player himself rather than anyone else.
The Reds have reportedly offered fresh terms to the Scotland captain, whether he sees that as being acceptable or not will be his call to make.
For what it is worth, though, Robertson should look at the bigger picture here rather than chase regular football at a club such as Spurs. Say he does join the North Londoners and plays every week once again, who’s to say fatigue will not catch up with him just as it did at Liverpool? From there it is only a short trip to retirement.
Instead, Robertson can stay playing second-fiddle at Liverpool, elongating his career and keeping his legs fresh for 15 or 20 starts per season. This decline seemingly is not irreversible, but it may set in again if the left-back makes the wrong call.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox