There’s a lesson for Liverpool in Andy Robertson absence vs Chelsea

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Liverpool won’t have Andy Robertson vs Chelsea later today. The fact that’s not a major concern should be a lesson learned.

Andy Robertson won’t feature for Liverpool today as his suspension carried over against Chelsea. It shouldn’t have, of course, but the Leeds United Boxing Day feature being postponed changed things.

It’s certainly a shame. Robertson is the world’s best left-back, in our opinion, and Liverpool are unquestionably weaker without him. Fortunately, they’re not that much weaker.

Kostas Tsimikas has had a wonderful breakthrough this season, after all. He barely featured at all across his debut campaign but chances arrived in late 2021.

Liverpool know they can rely on the Greek left-back. He’ll almost certainly put in a fine performance and the Reds won’t look too much different without Robertson. It’s a great sign of strength in the squad – but it should be a lesson.

Tsimikas to cover Robertson for Liverpool vs Chelsea

Today is the final game Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita will play for Liverpool before heading off to the Africa Cup of Nations. They depart at a very awkward time, however.

Liverpool have dropped points recently, after all, and could really use a full squad to get back on track. Instead, they’ll lose their two best forwards and a midfielder in fine form.

Unfortunately, there’s no real cover for either Salah or Mane. Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino are injured anyway but they’re not adequate cover even when fit. There’s a massive concern when the stars depart.

But Tsimikas shows that shouldn’t be the case. He wasn’t an expensive signing, merely one that went correctly but Liverpool haven’t made enough of them up front.

Minamino arrived two years ago but hasn’t proven himself, while Liverpool don’t appear to trust Origi with any regularity. That’s all been clear for a while now – yet the club didn’t act in the summer to try someone new.

Instead of having Tsimikas-like cover, they’ve got next to nothing. At best, two players who they don’t really want playing regularly.

It wouldn’t have taken much to try and fix that, however, and right now, it looks like a potentially fatal mistake in the title race.