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 at the club, Robertson was part of a questionable defensive display in the Draw 2-2 at home to struggling Manchester United on Sunday, when the visitors scored their first goals at Anfield since 2018.
“Liverpool need to sign a full-back in January – I’m thinking left-back,” former Reds defender Carragher told Sky Sports. “If Liverpool get a left-back in January it will put them in a very strong position.
“Robertson is an absolute legend and I love him to pieces. He hangs on every game and I don’t think [understudy] Konstantinos Tsimikas is quite the standard to come and replace him.
“If I think about 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 to replace Robertson?
Robertson, who won every English trophy and the Champions League at least once under former manager Jurgen Klopp, has started 17 of Liverpool’s 19 league matches this season under new boss Arne Slot and three of their European matches.
In one of the most unforgettable performances of his career, the 30-year-old was sent off after 17 minutes of the 2-2 home draw against Fulham on December 14.
Most of the attention after the United draw was focused on right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, with the visitors concentrating most of their attacks on his flank and scoring their goals from that side.
Alexander-Arnold “really poor”
“Trent was really poor today but Conor Bradley came on and he’s fantastic,” Carragher said, adding there would “definitely be a focus” on the England international following numerous reports. linking him with a move to Real Madrid.
“I don’t think the match could have been much worse for him. I expected him to put in a performance where he dominates the game and is almost a playmaker from right back.
“…They did not play at their level”
Daniel Sturridge and Roy Keane wonder if Liverpool really showed themselves against Man United 👀 pic.twitter.com/7wj0ilNCO1
– Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 5, 2025
“I thought Manchester United’s system would work in his favor and give him plenty of space to get his head up, put in crosses and combine with Mo Salah.
“He was mediocre defensively, but we’ve seen that before. There was nothing moving forward on the ball.
Real Madrid talk about ‘affected’ Alexander-Arnold
The 26-year-old was replaced by Bradley in the 84th minute, four minutes after United made it 2-2 – when Robertson was the closest player to goalscorer Amad Diallo – and a minute after Alexander- Arnold has been warned.
“He’s the only one who knows if this discussion affected him, but the fact that he was so poor in the first game after Real Madrid made an offer for him tells me that it did,” Carragher said. “Trent should have left a lot sooner.”
