Andy Robertson is set for a swift return to Anfield in the League Cup. Just four months after leaving, the Scottish international will take to the pitch against Liverpool wearing the colours of Tottenham, managed by Roberto De Zerbi.
Fans are expected to give Robertson a warm reception, though his former club has been feeling his absence deeply. Since the left-back's departure, the position has suffered a noticeable decline under manager Andoni Iraola:
- Kostas Tsimikas: He returned from a loan spell at Roma to serve as a backup. Starting in a match against Fulham for the first time in 15 months, he had a lacklustre performance and was substituted at half-time.
- Milos Kerkhez: The primary left-back has also struggled to impress, making crucial mistakes in matches against Newcastle and Atletico Madrid.
On the right side of defence, Iraola has addressed the issue by replacing Jeremy Frimpong with Ronald Araujo, but there seems to be no clear solution on the left.
The Merseysiders face a tough away trip to Bournemouth next, where Kerkhez and Iraola will be up against their former club, featuring standout performances from Ryan and Adrien Trufer, who has come in as Kerkhez's replacement.
This summer, Liverpool’s hierarchy opted not to sign a new left-back, conserving the budget for wingers instead. However, it's clear now that the club will need to enter the transfer market next year, as Kerkhez and Tsimikas have thus far been unable to adequately fill Robertson's sizeable boots.
