Liverpool will look to return to title contention next season.placeholder image
Liverpool will look to return to title contention next season. | AFP via Getty Images
Liverpool have been handed a tough draw in the Champions League and need all the experience that they have to progress.
Liverpool return to Champions League action and to the scene of one of the poorest performances of this season’s competition when they take on Galatasaray on their own patch.
The big-spending Turks are out for a repeat performance after being drawn together again and, over two legs, they will fancy their chances against a Reds team that has saved their best for Europe’s elite competition. Arne Slot will be hoping for a repeat of the second performance against Wolverhampton, rather than the first and his starting XI will have a big say in what sort of result is brought back to Merseyside.
Andy Robertson needs to start for Liverpool v Galatasaray
In a hostile environment, Slot needs leaders, and he needs experience. On this occasion, as he has done already in Europe this season, the Liverpool boss should turn to Andy Robertson, fresh off the back of his man of the match display against Wolves in the FA Cup where a goal and an assist was matched with a solid defensive performance.
Milos Kerkez has yet to truly convince and despite improving in terms of consistency, the Hungary international’s best games in a red shirt have been some way off Robertson’s against Wolves and Real Madrid. The Scotland captain remains Liverpool’s best left-back as well as an influential voice on and off the pitch.
Slot needs a man for the big occasion and was clearly impressed with his last outing, via the club’s website: “Robbo has in the one-and-a-half years that I'm here, he has given his everything for the club. I think the fans will tell me that it's not only one-and-a-half years he did this. He did this for all the years that he's been here. Every time I need him, or the club needs him, he tries to give his best. That's again what he did tonight, not only scoring and having an assist, but I think he defended well with calm and a lot of composure on the ball.”
What has Robertson said about his future?
Robertson’s future is still uncertain with moves to Atletico Madrid in the summer and Tottenham in January both close to seeing the 31-year old’s tenure at Anfield come to an end: “There was obviously interest there — there was discussions had with both sets of clubs,” Robertson told The Athletic. “But the decision was that I wanted to stay. I was never not committed. I’ve been committed to Liverpool for the last eight and a half or nine years now and I’ll be committed until I’m no longer needed.
“That’s always been my mindset. This club has given me everything and I’ve given this club everything. It’s been a fantastic relationship so hopefully that continues and obviously January happened, but it is now gone. Now we move forward. My focus never came off trying to help the lads on the pitch and in training.” An attitude that Slot could use with against Galatasaray.
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