Why Antonee Robinson would be the perfect left-back addition for Liverpool

 

Disaster struck in Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Arsenal last month. With Andy Robertson sidelined having dislocated his shoulder while on international duty, Kostas Tsimikas deputised well in the former's absence. However, Tsimikas was forced off with 10 minutes of the first half remaining at Anfield after the 27-year-old suffered a broken collarbone. 

 

With both left-backs absent, Joe Gomez deputised in the 2-0 Boxing Day win at Burnley and the 4-2 win over Newcastle on New Year's Day, with four of his eight league starts now coming on the left side of defence. Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, though, will want a specialist in the role between now and the end of the season as Liverpool chase the Premier League title.  

 

While the Merseyside giants perhaps hoped to avoid dipping into the market, injuries to Robertson and Tsimikas look to have forced their hand. Indeed, Antonee Robinson appears to be Liverpool's primary target this month as they assess their options. Owen Beck has been recalled from his successful loan spell at Dundee FC, the 21-year-old returning a fine WhoScored rating of 7.31 during his short stint in the Scottish Premiership, but a lack of top-fight experience means Klopp will be reluctant to throw the Welshman in at the deep end. 

 

The 26-year-old certainly caught the attention of the Reds when Fulham made the trip to Anfield at the start of December. Fulham may have fallen to a late 4-3 loss at Liverpool last month yet Robinson came off the pitch with the player of the match award. Much of that was due to Robinson's impressive work off the ball as he maximised his fine reading of the game to make 13 interceptions; no player has made more in a Premier League match since WhoScored started collecting Opta data from 2009/10. This is the sort of full-back Klopp would want on the books. 

 

A forward-thinking attacking option from deep allows Liverpool to really stretch opponents. Robinson may look to make last-ditch challenges to deny attackers yet it's the ability to pre-emptively cut out danger that means Liverpool can quickly transition from defence to attack. That he ranks top for interceptions (52) in Europe's top five leagues and second for possession won the defensive third (71) in the Premier League this season will undoubtedly appeal to Klopp. 

 

 

For a Liverpool side that has attempted the sixth most counter attacks (13) and has scored the third most counter-attacking goals (4) in England's top tier this term, Klopp needs players who are able to defend his side's goal and then break forward at speed to catch opposition defences out and Robinson does so very well. This is evident in that only Rayan Ait-Nouri (30) and Nelson Semedo (25) have completed more dribbles than the USA international (22) of defenders in the 2023/24 Premier League campaign. 

 

From these two metrics alone Robinson would be a great fit for Liverpool. Fulham focus their attacks down the flanks with Robinson key in helping to create chances from the left. A return of 18 key passes is the third most of all players for Marco Silva's side, a return that would undoubtedly rise in a side as attacking as Liverpool. You only have to look at the fact that Trent Alexander-Arnold (3) ranks top for key passes per 90 of all Liverpool players, a metric that Robertson (2.4) and Tsimikas (2) rank second and third, respectively, for in England's top tier this term. 

 

Klopp wants his full-backs to act as auxiliary wingers, especially as those who operate on the right and left look to cut infield rather than get to the byline and put the ball into the box. Given the American's desire to yo-yo up the left wing, Robinson won't have to tinker too much with his own style of play in order to adjust to Klopp's demands from his full-backs in his favoured 4-3-3 setup. 

 

Of course, Fulham will demand a hefty fee for a key player who is contracted to Craven Cottage for another four years having signed a new deal in west London back in July. However, given the way he looks to bombard up and the left flank, Robinson would be a good stylistic fit for Klopp's side. His potential addition could ultimately prove crucial in Liverpool's push to secure the Premier League title.

Why Antonee Robinson would be the perfect left-back addition for Liverpool