In the 2022–2023 season, Andy Robertson never fully established his rhythm, and for the first time, there may be questions about his long-term value.
Few players have been more dependable and steady since the Scot arrived at Anfield back in 2017, even though others have garnered more coverage and Man of the Match accolades.
Robertson was a crucial player for Liverpool when this new season began, but by the time it was over, perhaps things felt a little different.
Even when Robertson performs a little below his peak, it is unexpected since he has been very consistent for such a long time.
It was shocking to see him go below a six in his first five years as a Liverpool player, and he is rightfully recognized as one of the best left-backs in Europe.
However, in the 2022–2023 season, we witnessed a player fall short of past standards despite playing for a club that was in dire straits and had many other players who were more at fault.
Even yet, Robertson’s decline wasn’t particularly noteworthy, and occasionally he felt like one of the least responsible.
The 29-year-old was stable in comparison to Trent Alexander-Arnold, who suffered significantly, Virgil van Dijk, who appeared vulnerable for the first time, and midfielders who appeared past their prime.
However, he is still held to a high standard, thus it is only reasonable to acknowledge that he has failed in his own right.
In terms of attacking, Robertson’s finishing has always been lacking, and it seems to be growing worse with each passing season.
Despite not being his strongest suit, he failed to score a goal in 43 appearances across all competitions, which highlights some weaknesses in that department.
Although 11 great chances were generated, which was more than last season’s nine and the same as in 2020/21, it was his second-worst total over the previous five seasons.
Up until this season, Robertson had a reputation for being a rock-solid defender, but this aspect of his performance started to sag.
His joint-lowest tackle success rate for Liverpool was 55%; it hasn’t been lower since 2017–18, and he occasionally lapsed into complacency.
Even Jurgen Klopp referred to a mistake in a mid-season friendly against Lyon as “not cool.”
With a significant tactical adjustment made in April, Liverpool’s season was nearly split in half, and this is when Robertson’s role abruptly shifted.
Given the significance of the change, Alexander-Arnold’s transformation into a right-back who roams into midfield has had an effect on a large number of players.
The Englishman’s new role is to play matches while in possession in the middle of the field, which forces him to leave his right-back position and forces the rest of the defense to ask to do more.
When forced to switch positions and occasionally cover two, Ibrahima Konate and Robertson didn’t always appear to be fully at ease.
He was suddenly expected to play more centrally when necessary, filling the space between himself, Van Dijk, and Konate instead of being the most aggressive modern left-back.
Simply said, he struggled at first and, despite Liverpool’s successes, his performances weren’t always any better than they had been before to April.
Given the intricate nature of the tactical transition, there have undoubtedly been teething problems, but Klopp has given him the support he needs to succeed since he is “a very experienced player, a very smart player [who] knows when we need him there .”
In essence, it is a major test of the defender’s intelligence and adaptability at a stage of his career when he has logged a lot of kilometers.
According to Robertson, who is unabashedly optimistic about adapting, “it’s about finding yourself within that and bringing the best out of you no matter what system we play next season or if we have a couple of systems we can play.”
He might even gain from moving forward a little less than previously.
However, Robertson may be in his most vulnerable situation yet while wearing a Reds jersey given that Liverpool is anticipated to stick with this style next season.
Recent years have seen Liverpool carelessly allow their squad to age together, failing to bring in adequate reinforcements and paying the price.
Robertson, who joined Anfield as a young 23-year-old and will turn 30 in the spring, is currently one of the most experienced players there.
While speculation about his departure is unfounded, there is a case to be made that a top-tier acquisition who is more talented than Kostas Tsimikas may put him under significant pressure as a regular starter.
There is no denying that Robertson’s all-around game was less effective in 2022–23, and while he could very well return revitalized and at his peak, this is by no means a given.
Given Klopp’s new style, there is still speculation that Liverpool may sign a left-footed and left-sided center-back, which would allow that player to replace Robertson in the starting lineup.
The likes of Wolfsburg speedster Micky van de Ven and the highly rated pair of Goncalo Inacio at Sporting CP and Levi Colwill at Chelsea have been linked with summer moves, which is a sign that the manager is looking at an alternative.
Bringing one of these in would make sense, providing more balance to the back line, and Robertson would surely treat the competition in the healthiest way possible.
A ‘poor’ season for Robertson is still an adequate one for most players – it was a year that still saw him become the highest assist-making defender in Premier League history – but here’s hoping we see him back to his best in 2023/24.
