Liverpool ‘need to sign a full-back in January’ because Robertson ‘holds on’ – Carragher
Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool can put themselves in a “really strong” position to win the Premier League by replacing Andy Robertson this month.
In his eighth season with the club, Robertson was part of a questionable defensive performance 2-2 draw at home against Manchester United on Sunday as the visitors scored their first goals at Anfield since 2018.
“Liverpool need to sign a full-back in January – I think a left-back,” former Reds defender Carragher told Sky Sports. “If Liverpool get a left-back in January it will be a really strong position for Liverpool.
“Robertson is an absolute legend and I love him more than anything. He just holds up in every game and I don’t think (understudy) Konstantinos Tsimikas is quite the standard to replace him.”
“When I look back on it tomorrow, I would have hoped for more.”
Arne Slot says Liverpool missed a lot of chances against Manchester United at Anfield ❌ pic.twitter.com/6FnLLrlNfk
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 5, 2025
Liverpool replace Robertson?
Robertson, who won every English trophy at least once and the Champions League under former coach Jürgen Klopp, started 17 of Liverpool’s 19 league games and three European Cup games under new coach Arne Slot this season.
In one of the most memorable performances of his career, the 30-year-old was sent off after 17 minutes of a 2-2 draw at home to Fulham on December 14.
Most of the attention following the draw against United fell on right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold as the visitors concentrated most of their attacks on his flank and scored their goals from that side.
Alexander-Arnold “really poor”
“Trent was really bad today but Conor Bradley came on and he is fantastic,” Carragher said, adding that the England international “will definitely be the focus” after numerous reports which links him with a move to Real Madrid.
“I don’t think the game could have been much worse for him. I expected a performance from him in which he would dominate the game and almost become a playmaker as a right-back.
“…They didn’t play at their level.”
Daniel Sturridge and Roy Keane wonder whether Liverpool really looked good against Man United 👀 pic.twitter.com/7wj0ilNCO1
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 5, 2025
“I thought Manchester United’s system would play into his hands and give him plenty of space to get his head up, cross and combine with Mo Salah.
“He was bad defensively, but we’ve seen that before. There was nothing going forward on the ball.”
Real Madrid talk “affects” Alexander-Arnold
The 26-year-old was replaced by Bradley in the 84th minute, four minutes after United made it 2-2 – when Robertson went closest to scorer Amad Diallo – and a minute after Alexander-Arnold was booked.
“Only he knows if the conversation affected him, but the fact that he was so bad in the first game after Real Madrid made an offer for him tells me that it was,” Carragher said. “Trent should have come through much sooner.”
