Liverpool head coach Arne Slot says Andy Robertson’s lack of a pre-season has contributed to his decision to rotate at left-back.
The 30-year-old’s Scotland captain’s place in the side has come under threat from Kostas Tsimikas, who has already made four starts and a further five substitute appearances so far this season.
With Tsimikas, 28, left out of the midweek Carabao Cup win over Brighton & Hove Albion, the Greece international is expected to start Saturday’s Premier League clash with the same opponents at Anfield.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a dilemma,” Slot said. “There have been other positions we have rotated — the left wing, in the midfield and the No 9 position.
“It probably has to do with Robbo’s pre-season. He had no pre-season because he came back injured from the Euros.
“Kostas did really well in that period. It has do with the quality Kostas brings in that position, but it’s also to do with Robbo missing pre-season so that’s why we started rotating from the start a bit.
“If a player didn’t have any pre-season, there was no time to bring him to a situation where he could play three games in a row. We try to build up our players for that programme and for him it was difficult because he missed out on pre-season where others were there.
“That’s his situation and it was good for him to play against Arsenal and Brighton in the week to make sure he’s getting into that rhythm of playing twice a week.”
Slot also leapt to the defence of young centre-back Jarell Quansah, who came in for some criticism after the 3-2 win over Brighton.
“I think Jarell played a very good game,” he insisted. “The only issue he has at the moment is that if he has a moment that is not perfect, it immediately leads to a goal. In my opinion he was unlucky. He has already shown in the past that he can play a game without these small mistakes. If you look at his overall performance, I really liked what I saw.”
Alisson, Diogo Jota, Harvey Ellliott and Federico Chiesa all remain sidelined by injury.
“Chiesa won’t be back before the international break. We are hoping he will be able to do certain things again during the break and then he can join us after,” Slot said.
Asked about the contract situations of key trio Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who will all be free agents next summer, Slot added: “For me the contract situations could become a problem if the players don’t perform as well as they do at the moment. All three of them are in a good place.
“They all perform really well and there are ongoing discussions. That’s not with me, as you know.
“Let’s wait and see. Virgil is right when he says he doesn’t know exactly what his future brings as long as he hasn’t signed a contract.”
(Carl Recine/Getty Images)
