Andy Robertson has been limited to a bit-part role at Liverpool this season following the arrival of Milos Kerkez, with Pat Nevin believing the Scot has been "poorly treated"
Former Scotland international Pat Nevin has accused Liverpool of treating Andy Robertson "poorly" following the club's summer transfer activity. Robertson arrived at Anfield from Hull City in 2017 for a bargain £8million and has since lifted two Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy with the Merseyside giants.
Despite being handed the vice-captaincy in August, the left-back appeared to have slipped down the pecking order behind summer arrival Milos Kerkez. The 22-year-old Hungarian joined from Bournemouth in a £40million deal and has frequently been selected ahead of Robertson - a choice Nevin has questioned.
Speaking to CasinoHawks, he said: "I have been asking why Arne Slot has been playing Milos Kerkez when Andy Robertson has been in better form. But more important than that, imagine if you're Liverpool and you've got a very successful group and you've just won the league, but you know you've got to change it - you've got to, football moves on. It's evolution, not revolution at that point. Don't throw in a revolution.
"Because when you do that, not only are you going to change the dynamic in the team, because you're going to drop important players - Trent Alexander-Arnold has gone, you're going to dump Andy Robertson, and Luis Díaz has gone, and you're bringing in Alexander Isak. And they're good players. But this is a massive difference.
"People think, 'Well, is it because they're not playing well, they're not understanding each other?' It's all those things. But I'll tell you something else.
"If you are Virgil van Dijk or someone like that, you'll look and think: 'Am I next?' You won't say it out loud, but you will think it.
"I think Robbo has been quite poorly treated there for a little while this season. And he's been an absolutely staggeringly good professional throughout, however. An absolutely brilliant professional.
"He just took it, sucked it up, and then since he came back he's looked really good. And they've looked better, generally, with him there, because it's a settled group, a unit that knows each other.
"Kerkez will get the spot eventually. But that's not the first time they've tried to replace Robbo, by the way. But Kerkez will get that job, because he's a good player, but it might take a little while. The fact is, he seemed to freeze on occasions so far and you can't allow that.
"I'm convinced it was a bad idea to drop Robbo. And I'm convinced Arne Slot has realised that now. So well done, Slot, for figuring that out."
Kerkez has been given nine Premier League starts this season whilst Robertson has featured in just two. However, Arne Slot appears to be changing tack, with the Scotland captain clocking up more game time than his Hungarian rival across Liverpool's previous five fixtures.
The current circumstances are far from what Robertson envisaged at the start of the season. The 31-year-old confessed earlier in the campaign that he had, for the first time, pondered his future at the club during the summer.
Susaekosyz
1
SLOT play Robertson over KERKEZ,plays with heart & soul use KERKEZ as Sub for him Go for Ex Man City back CANCELO,Experienced & excellent provider
Rewinprsy
0
Pack you back n go Slot, coz hell is coming!!! Don't believe, just wait when u fail everything, it is not far, it just round the corner.
Rewinprsy
2
Slot is rubbish
kuecipstyz
0
i like liverpool than any thing
futiklmopz
1
Robertson you're good until now but slot look like Small coach who doesn't know about football
Medbekrtu
1
Arne should play both players as both are very hard working and robust.
dubbcioruy
1
Non comprende
Nudbdeimo
3
That guy doesn't know anything. that slowly or Slot. I said this before, Is just that i know that this is how's going to be. You sell Nunes and buy Isak. Isak, You can't compare the 2 together. Nunes is far more than Isak. And this guy Kerkez is not good enough for Liverpool. Timskas is better than him. The only player that i knew he get it is only Ekitike for now.. Although Wizk is trying and maybe because of amount they spend on him is what makes him drop, but i still like him. But Isak is really mess