Jamie Carragher has defended Andy Robertson, questioning Arne Slot’s decision to sideline the Liverpool left-back in favour of Milos Kerkez.
Arne Slot has made some bold calls since taking over at Liverpool and while change was always likely after a summer of upheaval, not all of his decisions have been met with approval.
As autumn settles in, that revolution has come with growing pains. Four straight defeats have left the Premier League champions reeling, and with results faltering, some of Slot’s selections are beginning to draw serious scrutiny.
Few decisions, though, have sparked more debate than Andy Robertson’s demotion to the bench.
Robertson, 30, has been one of Liverpool’s most dependable performers for more than half a decade a relentless presence down the left flank and a cornerstone of the club’s success under Klopp. Yet since the arrival of Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth, the club vice captain has found himself reduced to a supporting role.
At first, Slot’s reasoning appeared logical. Kerkez, 20, was one of Europe’s standout young full-backs last season and arrived with a reputation for attacking flair and energy qualities that fit neatly into Slot’s aggressive, possession-based style. But the transition hasn’t been smooth.
Kerkez has looked raw and uncertain in the early weeks of the campaign. His positional awareness has been questioned, and in possession, the fearlessness that defined him at Bournemouth has too often been replaced by hesitation.
His performance in the recent 2-1 defeat to Manchester United summed up his struggles: tentative going forward, exposed defensively, and short of confidence.
It’s a situation that Jamie Carragher believes could have been handled differently. Speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast, the former Liverpool defender said he was “surprised” by how completely Robertson has been frozen out.
“What I’m surprised at is not that Kerkez is first choice, because I think that was right initially for him to come in, but Robertson’s almost getting treated like Tsimikas, where it’s like you never play,” Carragher said.
“It is like he will only play unless the left-back’s injured or you come on sub.
“I’m surprised he hasn’t been given more games, not just because Kerkez hasn’t performed that well, just more of actually he has been a great Liverpool left-back. He won the league last season.
Carragher’s comments reflect what many inside Anfield are beginning to whisper: that Robertson’s exclusion feels unnecessarily absolute.
Robertson could get that opportunity to return as early as Wednesday, when Liverpool face Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League. With pressure mounting and the team needing stability, Slot may turn back to experience something Robertson offers in abundance.
The Scotsman remains one of the club’s leaders, both on and off the pitch. His crossing, pressing intelligence, and relentless drive have been central to Liverpool’s identity for years. Reintegrating him now could provide not just tactical balance, but also a psychological lift to a side searching for rhythm.
Slot’s desire to build for the future is understandable. Liverpool’s recruitment under new sporting director Richard Hughes has focused on youth and upside, and Kerkez clearly fits that model.
Dropping a proven performer like Robertson entirely has sent a message one that, at least for now, seems to have unsettled more than inspired.
As Carragher pointed out, the issue isn’t simply about who starts at left-back it’s about how quickly the hierarchy was established.
“Kerkez is a new player but it almost just feels like Kerkez is the left-back, and that’s the end of it,” Carragher said. “I’ve found that strange really from game one.”
Robertson could yet get the chance to reclaim his spot this week. The 30-year-old is expected to start Wednesday night’s Champions League clash away to Eintracht Frankfurt, a match that could carry real weight for both player and manager.
If Robertson delivers in Frankfurt, Slot may have no choice but to rethink his hierarchy on the left. Because at a time when Liverpool need leaders, energy, and experience to steady the ship, the solution might just be the one who has been waiting patiently on the bench all along
