There is only one wish when players depart on international duty – that they return healthy. So one can imagine the blow that was seeing Andy Robertson cradle his injured shoulder after a collision with Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón.
By Joanna Durkan, ThisIsAnfield.com
Eight games into the new Premier League season and Robertson has started and played the full 90 minutes in every single one, dropping out of Liverpool’s team only for the League Cup and Europa League.
Much had been made of the Scot’s place in the side following the Reds’ system change at the back end of last season, but he has started the campaign with renewed vigour.
Robertson has been at the heart of the Reds’ creative hub from his place at left-back for years now, and while Trent Alexander-Arnold may attract the majority of the attention, the 29-year-old has the Premier League all-time assist record for a defender.
In the Premier League, no other Red has created more chances than Robertson’s 19 across the first eight games this season – only seven players have created more across the entire division.
With 2.4 chances created per 90, the Scotland captain sits ahead of both Mohamed Salah (2.2 per 90) and Dominik Szoboszlai (2.1 per 90) in the rankings – two players whom Liverpool supporters would hail as the best of the campaign so far.
Reliable, a creator, a leader and an ever-present – the picture we’re painting shines a spotlight on the void Robertson will leave for the duration of his absence, which could be months if his shoulder injury requires surgery.
Of the 334 games the Reds have played since the left-back arrived in the summer of 2017, Robertson has played 275 (82.3 percent). As Klopp’s sixth most-used player at Liverpool, the task of stepping into the Scot’s position is not a simple nor straightforward one.
Kostas Tsimikas is the long-term deputy, though, and will be expected to step up just weeks after signing a new long-term contract at the club – which in itself is evidence that Liverpool are convinced he can do the job.
Since arriving in 2020, he has been a squad player and the temporary nature of his place in the side is exemplified by having never started more than two consecutive Premier League games.
Just as there was for Robertson, questions will be asked of how Tsimikas will fare as the left-sided defender in the 3-4-3 setup, though he too has plenty to offer when it comes to the creative side of the game.
The Greek international is a threat on set pieces and from open play, which will be of some comfort to Liverpool when taking into account Robertson’s abovementioned influence.
Tsimikas’ defensive positioning and lapses in concentration will be a huge concern though, with the feeling among supporters over the years being that he does not completely have the manager’s full trust.
His attacking capabilities may prove to be worth the risk for Klopp.
But as there is no direct like-for-like Robertson replacement, that means the Liverpool manager may need to explore alternative options, and Joe Gomez is one of them.
With the tweaks to the team’s setup, the left-sided defender all but operates as a centre-back and Gomez can fulfil those duties – though Klopp would be sacrificing attacking impetus.
The English defender has played at both centre-back and right-back this season and has previously played at left-back — albeit in his debut season in 2015/16 – making him a ‘safe’ option.
Without the added minutes in his legs from international commitments and having made nine appearances compared to Tsimikas’ four this season, Gomez has rhythm and momentum.
So, on one hand, Klopp has a safe defensive option and on the other a left-footed player capable of posing a threat in the final third – it leaves plenty to weigh up.
Though Liverpool will hope the Robertson-sized hole in their starting XI is a short-term problem and not a long-term one, his absence will be a huge loss for the Reds irrespective of how long it turns out to be.
One of the loudest in the dressing room and with a relentless spirit on the pitch, Robertson deals in both the tangible and non-tangible parts of this game, and his form has been instrumental to the Reds sitting just three points off the top of the Premier League table.
Klopp’s decisions from this point forward could well dictate if that gap dwindles, grows or remains stable.
(Images from IMAGO)
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