Andy Robertson unleashed by tactical change as Liverpool reloaded send Premier League message
It has been quite a week in the career of Andy Robertson.
On Tuesday, the left-back assisted two England players for goals – one agonisingly, one amusingly – as Scotland slipped to a 3-1 defeat against the Auld Enemy at Hampden.
And, with Virgil van Dijk suspended and Trent Alexander-Arnold injured, on Saturday at Wolverhampton Wanderers he marked his 200th Premier League appearance for Liverpool by being handed the captain’s armband – only the third time he’d led the team out.
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While the absence of Alexander-Arnold could have seen a switch to a more conventional 4-3-3 formation, which plays more to Robertson’s strengths, the Reds stuck to the box-midfield approach with Joe Gomez the unlikely hybrid right-back.
It really didn’t work as Jurgen Klopp’s side flailed horribly during an alarming first half which evoked memories of their last trip to Molineux. Indeed, they were fortunate to only be 1-0 down at half-time.
With Liverpool having lost only two of 22 matches since that chastening 3-0 reverse in February, this was always going to be a barometer of their strong start to the season not least as, to Klopp’s eternal chagrin, it was another early kick-off following an international break.
The hangover was obvious. Robertson, given little help by Diogo Jota in front of him and hampered by a midfield massively off the pace, was overworked on the left, while on the opposite flank Gomez was given the runaround by the impressive Pedro Neto.
But tactical and personnel tweaks during the break proved hugely effective and benefited Robertson in particular. Now with the lively Luis Diaz busying the Wolves
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