Former Liverpool star Fara Williams has backed Andy Robertson to prove any detractors wrong as she outlined how the Scotland captain’s role has “changed” under Arne Slot.
The left-back has remained a key cog in the Reds machine, appearing 32 times in the top flight this season en route to claiming a second Premier League title at Anfield. A mainstay in the side since his arrival from Hull back in 2017, the Kop favorite has won every major honor on offer during his glittering stay on Merseyside.
However, his form has come under criticism at points during this current campaign, with his mixed displays leading to some speculation over his future. Only this week, the 31-year-old full-back was tipped to potentially move to boyhood club Celtic this summer by former Liverpool striker Fernando Morientes.
Moreover, continued links with Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez mean that Robertson’s status as a guaranteed starter may well come in for question next season even if he is to stay. The Glaswegian defender trails only teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold in terms of the all-time assists record for a defender in Premier League history.
However, his cross for Cody Gakpo’s opener against Arsenal was his only assist of the campaign to-date, demonstrating a stark drop-off in his attacking output. Now, former Liverpool Women’s ace Williams has backed the Scottish international to prove his doubters wrong.
Writing for BBC Sport, she asserted: “You think back to the (Jurgen) Klopp teams in terms of how high up the pitch both Trent and Robertson used to play and how aggressive they were in terms of their start position. That has changed under Arne Slot.
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“He is more patient in how they build. They don’t leave themselves too exposed to transitions. They are not as expansive through their full-backs. We talk about how well their midfield has played this year, a lot of play has gone through the midfield, whereas under Klopp, they went more down the outside.
“So there has been a lot of differences, a lot of changes in the system, and that affects personnel. You can even look at the amount of time Robertson and Alexander-Arnold have been on the pitch together and I don’t think that has happened as much as before.”
Ultimately, Williams is confident that the Kop hero can return to top form next year. She added: “There are a lot of factors that influence these things and suggestions Robertson might be on the decline is a bit harsh. You do not just become a bad player overnight and changes in style can have an impact.”
As for Robertson himself, he recently expressed his regret at the news that long-term defensive partner Alexander-Arnold will depart Anfield this summer. After a 2-2 draw against the Gunners last weekend, he admitted: “All I can tell you is how I feel about it.
“First of all, I’m disappointed to lose my best mate in the game, and we’ve done it all together. He’s an amazing player and an amazing person. “He’s made me a better player, that’s from the bottom of my heart.”
