In a sense, Andy Robertson received a free pass during the summer transfer window. With his midfield department, which had grown weary and jaded over time, Jürgen Klopp approached the market with one major priority to address.
This summer, six key players—including captain Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Naby Keta—left the Anfield engine room. Liverpool had to deal with a significant reconstruction project after four new additions signed contracts in Merseyside.
The Reds have profited on the field as a result of the additions of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru End, and Ryan Gravenberch, winning three of their first four Premier League games this season. Robertson is still a staple in Klopp’s lineup, but he may not be the best match for the current scheme.
When possession was in control, Klopp instructed his players to change into a new 3-2-5 shape, altering the composition of his usual 4-3-3 formation. Trent Alexander-Arnold, a right defender, was forced to move inside and join Fabinho, Henderson, and Curtis Jones as a fourth midfielder as a result.
Robertson is still making an effort to form a back three at the back after being told to do so by Klopp. Over the course of Liverpool’s last 15 games, Klopp has relied heavily on the new dynamic. The Reds haven’t lost since implementing the new shape, in fact.
The team and many players in the squad appear to have benefited from the tactical change, especially Alexander-Arnold. It’s also important to note that attack-minded midfielders like Jones and Szoboszlai have been given a platform to flourish in advanced areas because of the players positioned behind them.
On the other side, Robertson has been compelled to play within himself. He is a defensive player who naturally thinks ahead, but he is no longer being encouraged to overlap as much.
The Scotland captain has done a commendable job in the position, and his most recent performance against Aston Villa was possibly his best in a red shirt in some time, but he does not naturally fit the role of a wide center-back. Despite his apparent willingness to change, he will always be more likely to attack and get closer to the final third.
Over the past year, both Manchester City and Arsenal have embraced similar tactical concepts, although Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta have deployed central defenders in Robertson’s position, with Ben White and Nathan Aké filling those wide defensive positions.
Joko Gvardiol, one of the best left-footed defenders in the world, was another alternative that Guardiola invested in this summer. The
For Manchester City, Gvardiol and Aké are two left-footed alternatives. In Gabriel Magalhes and Jakub Kiwior, Arteta has two more. At Manchester United, Lisandro Martnez is represented by Erik ten Hag, while Sven Botman and Dan Burn are at Newcastle United, Levi Colwill is at Chelsea, and Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are at Aston Villa.
Since Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konaté, and Jol Matip are all right-handed, Klopp doesn’t actually have a single left-footed center-back in his squad. The Reds manager might have filled that gap this summer, but his midfield unit took center stage justly, preserving Robertson’s starting position.
The Scotland international gained another “boost” this week when Arthur Theate, who has been linked to Liverpool, extended his contract with Rennes through 2027. During the summer, L’Equipe alleged that the Reds had’shortlisted’ him.
The 23-year-old Belgian could have been the best candidate for the position at Anfield because he has left-back and center-back expertise. But Klopp was unable to sign him this summer, and now it appears that he is confined to France.
Left-footed central defenders’ market share seems to be dwindling every month. That developing development won’t exactly satisfy Liverpool, but if there’s one person who won’t be upset about it, it’s Robertson, who has been given the green light for the moment.
