Andy Robertson needs competition – he has said so himself – but Liverpool should be looking to keep leaders like him at the club.
Our heroes move on but Liverpool remains. Like the ticking of a clock, footballers must come and go, no matter the legacy they leave.
An institution like Liverpool must safeguard its future, but that isn’t to say it should simply discard its legends.
Despite being part of the Reds’ title triumph last season, Robertson clearly wasn’t quite at the level that made him the world’s best left-back at his peak.
The Scotland captain needed competition – he himself admitted it – but the way in which last season’s league-winning full-back has been instantly swept to the side has been a touch extreme.
Robbo wins the tie – with a reminder to Slot and co.
On Friday night, Robertson reminded us all – if we needed it – of his capabilities.
Against Wolves, he was arguably the Reds’ most influential player, managing more touches, more passes into the final third and more accurate passes than anyone else on the pitch, according to FotMob.
Furthermore, his decisive two minutes, in which he scored from 25 yards and produced an inch-perfect cross for Mo Salah to double the lead, effectively won the tie for Liverpool.
He also dealt well with Wolves‘ right wing-back, Jackson Tchatchoua, who is one of the quickest players to ever grace the Premier League.
This wasn’t a footballer whose race is run. He looked energetic, consistently bursting beyond Rio Ngumoha to link up with the youngster and Alexis Mac Allister.
With a World Cup in the summer and two trophies still to play for this season, Robertson looked ready to drive Liverpool deep into the FA Cup and Champions League – that is if he gets the chance, of course.
Milos Kerkez’s mismanaged transition
BURNLEY, ENGLAND - Sunday, September 14, 2025: Liverpool's Milos Kerkez is replaced by substitute Andy Robertson during the FA Premier League match between Burnley FC and Liverpool FC at Turf Moor. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Robertson has gone from starting 29 games in the league last season to just five this time around.
Milos Kerkez‘s signing from Bournemouth was welcomed as a coup, given that the Hungarian was undoubtedly the best left-back in the Premier League last season.
However, it became apparent very quickly that his start to life at Liverpool would be far from smooth.
Despite the youngster’s early struggles, Slot was determined to play Kerkez through his troubles despite having an experienced head in Robertson ready to step in.
Kerkez was by no means the only under-performer in the stretch when Liverpool lost nine of 12 matches, but his often nervous antics were far from helpful for a side already bereft of confidence.
All the while, Robertson watched on with his minutes largely consigned to cup competitions.
Left-Back Battle: 2025/26 Premier League Stats
Metric Andy Robertson Milos Kerkez
Premier League Starts 5 24
Chances Created (Per 90) 2.04 1.10
Successful Crosses (Per 90) 1.36 0.6
Touches (Per 90) 81.72 65.05
* Stats accurate as of March 7, 2026. Data via FotMob/Opta.
Thankfully, Kerkez has begun to show why Liverpool paid £40 million for his services, but we are still in a situation where it is perfectly reasonable to think his senior remains the better player.
But despite the youngster’s improvement, Robertson has produced better statistics in the league, averaging more chances created and successful crosses per 90 minutes.
“Milos is a fantastic left-back, had an unbelievable season last season at Bournemouth, took a little bit of time to settle in to a big club, which everyone does,” Robertson told BBC Sport after the Reds’ win at Wolves.
“But you know, the club have to move forward. You know, the lads that have been here for so long, we’re not getting any younger.
“We’re all in our 30s now, and the replacements have to come in. We know that. That’s what we want for the club.
“We want them to be ambitious, and we want them to go and compete on all fronts, you have to accept it.
“I’ve had competition my whole career, and it’s no different this season. Obviously, I’ve not played as many games as maybe I would have liked, but that’s part of football.
“Just when you do play, you’ve just got to go and enjoy it. I think I’ve done that tonight.”
Why the rush to push out Andy Robertson?
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - Friday, March 6, 2026: Liverpool's goalscorer Andy Robertson taps the badge after the FA Cup 5th Round match between Liverpool FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at Molineux. The game ended 1-3. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool’s new signings are undoubtedly excellent players, but football isn’t played on paper – a notion Liverpool’s directors ought to have been reminded of.
Slot’s management of the situation hasn’t been much short of dire, which nearly led Robertson to leave for Tottenham in the January transfer window.
It has felt at times like Kerkez has remained in the team as a symbol of the summer’s ‘out with the old, in with the new’ approach.
We have seen a similar problem emerge with Curtis Jones, who was reportedly keen on a move to Inter in January having been left out despite the poor form of Alexis Mac Allister and others.
Such is Robertson’s professionalism that he has remained committed in training and done a trustworthy job when called upon.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, December 14, 2024: Liverpool's Arne Slot looks on as Andy Robertson walks off after being shown a red card and sent off during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
In a squad that is losing its experienced winners, who were there for Jurgen Klopp‘s period of near-dominance when training standards were intense and Liverpool became the standard-bearer in Europe, Robertson’s presence is vital.
Slot is aware of the importance of these figures in the dressing room.
He said in January: “If I’m in the building and I’m talking about that period of time, I hear two other names constantly, and that’s James Milner and Jordan Henderson.
“That’s also things you’re looking at that you have the right mentality, people who know what the culture is.”
The culture must be preserved, and the only way to do that is by passing it down, just like Liverpool did in the Boot Room days.
Nobody is arguing that the new blood shouldn’t be integrated, but the rush for Robertson’s removal from the side has been one of the errors made this season by Slot and other senior staff.
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