Andy Robertson should be in Liverpool team vs Burnley as his full stats emerge from dazzling Scotland display
Andy Robertson should be recalled to the Liverpool team for their next game against Burnley following an outstanding performance in Scotland’s win over Belarus.
Robertson is a modern-day Liverpool legend for his impressive exploits in some highly successful years as a club since his £10million [BBC] move from Hull City in 2017.
The Scotland international, 31, has proven himself as one of the best bargains in the Reds’ history over the last eight years, yet age is not on his side anymore and he saw serious competition for his left-back spot arrive this summer with Milos Kerkez moving to Liverpool from Bournemouth.
Football Insider revealed in June that Liverpool were weighing up whether to let Robertson leave this summer, amid interest in his signature from Atletico Madrid, and Arne Slot fuelled exit rumours by preferring to start Kerkez in each of the Reds’ first two Premier League games prior to the deadline
Robertson remained at the club, though, as Kostas Tsimikas instead departed on loan to Roma, and he now deserves his chance in Slot’s side after putting in a seriously impressive showing while on international duty.
Arne Slot should drop Milos Kerkez after Andy Robertson’s dazzling Scotland display
Robertson captained Scotland to a 2-0 World Cup qualifying win against Belarus on Monday (8 September), and he was a key part of their much-needed victory with a top performance from left-back.
The 31-year-old did not put a foot wrong all night at the ZTE-Arena, with the most chances created of any player in the game (3) and the most passes completed of any player (127) [Fotmob] as Steve Clarke’s side kept a clean sheet for the third consecutive game for the first time since November 2021.
He also made a whopping 25 passes into Belarus’ final third as he was afforded space to attack, and should have had an assist for his efforts late on as he crossed well to Che Adams but the striker saw his shot from a tight angle blocked on the line.
Robertson was key for Scotland, and he could still be a major player for Liverpool going forward despite being benched in each of Liverpool’s first four competitive games so far this season behind Kerkez.
This performance proves that he deserves a second-chance from Slot, as he still has a lot in his locker and should have been in the Dutchman’s thinking regardless after some shaky performances from Kerkez at the start of his Reds career.
Kerkez particularly struggled against Newcastle as he allowed Bruno Guimaraes to run free to score, and failed to make a single interception or create a chance, while he was unsuccessful with all five of his attempted long passes.
He also failed to shine against Crystal Palace in the Community Shield or either of Liverpool’s other league games against former club Bournemouth and Arsenal, and all of these factors mean that now feels like the right time for Robertson to be reinstated in Slot’s starting eleven against Burnley this weekend.
Andy Robertson well placed for Liverpool starting XI return
Robertson has been dealing with something entirely new to him in the last few months, in that he has been relegated to the bench and is having to properly fight for his place at Anfield.
He recently said that he had “missed the feeling of playing games,” ahead of joining up with Steve Clarke’s side, while admitting that the transition to being second-choice for the Reds was “a bit difficult” to deal with.
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 344 | 11 | 67 |
What Robertson will not want to materialise is him potentially being dropped by Clarke at international level, as even though he is the Scotland captain, there is strong competition for places at left-back with Kieran Tierney, Josh Doig and Greg Taylor each in the mix for game-time.
He is not a quitter, though, and will surely continue to put in strong performances when called upon for either Liverpool or Scotland, especially with the latter seeming likely to contend with Denmark for automatic World Cup qualification, which could be his last chance to play at the tournament for his country.