BBC pundit baffled by what Andy Robertson did in Liverpool draw v Arsenal
Pat Nevin couldn’t believe Andy Robertson allowed Bukayo Saka to score against Liverpool in the 2-2 draw against Arsenal on Sunday (27 October).
Saka beat the 30-year-old comfortably in a one-on-one situation at Emirates Stadium and unleashed his effort past Caoimhin Kelleher to give his side the lead against the Reds.
Virgil van Dijk levelled for the visitors soon after before Mikel Merino restored the lead heading into the break. Mohamed Salah equalised again in the final 10 minutes to salvage a point in North London.
However, former Everton player Nevin couldn’t fathom Robertson’s influence in the first Arsenal goal as he covered the game live on BBC Radio 5 Live [27 October, 4:41pm], believing the full-back needed to do better.
He said: “Andy Robertson just lets Bukayo Saka go, but he still has a lot to do. He breaks into the penalty area and the angle is against him, but he doesn’t care. He has rifled that into the near post, brilliant finish.”
Andy Robertson is becoming a cause for concern at Liverpool
Robertson has been a stalwart for Liverpool and one of the players who helped define the Jurgen Klopp era but Arne Slot can no longer ignore the warning signs.
His performances for club and country have been far below the standard he has set in the past few years, and his outing against Arsenal could be the final nail in the coffin.
Saka began the match nursing an injury, as concerns emerged from the Emirates regarding whether he would be fit to feature, and he did not just play but thrived against the Scottish international on the right flank.
Robertson couldn’t exude his influence on either end of the pitch as makeshift right-back Thomas Partey snuffed all attacking threats from his side and he was rightfully removed just after the hour mark for Kostas Tsimikas.
While Tsimikas admitted his eagerness to push on at Liverpool this term after years on the fringes under Klopp, his season has not panned out according to plan, and he is likely not to show the form that will warrant a starting berth over Robertson despite the circumstances.
However, it may be time for the Reds to put a contingency plan in place for the left-back and find a suitable replacement to faze him out of the first-team picture as he enters the twilight years of his career.
Robertson can still be a capable performer for Slot as the side continues to fight on all fronts this season, but he has shown on several occasions his best days are behind him – his showing against Arsenal was the most telling of all.
In other Liverpool news, Jamie Carragher shares his verdict on whether Trent Alexander-Arnold will leave the Reds.
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