Liverpool have had to suck up a fair amount of criticism this weekend after putting in another dismal performance in the Premier League.
The Reds were beaten by Bournemouth to mean they are now five games without a win since the turn of the year.
To make matters worse for Liverpool fans, rumours continue that the Reds could sell Andy Robertson this January.
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On Sunday reports emerged which suggested the plug had been pulled on the left-back’s proposed move to Tottenham, but by Monday, rumours resurfaced that Robertson could leave.
As Liverpool’s now back-up left-back, Arne Slot may feel that Liverpool will not miss Robertson all that much, but Gary Neville has taken aim at the Reds and highlighted a key reason why they absolutely will.
Liverpool need Andy Robertson’s nasty edge
Robertson has always been looked at by rival supporters as a player who you love to have on your team but hate to play against. The 31-year-old does not mind adding a bit of needle to any game and is essentially a fan on the pitch at times.
With him now playing a more reduced role, Liverpool have missed that from Robertson this season. As Neville highlighted while speaking to Sky Sports, his teammates have become too nice this term.
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“For the first time last night watching them I thought they looked a little bit soft,” said the Manchester United legend. “Virgil van Dijk is a giant, but even when he gets nudged off the ball at the end and Adli scores. You can’t get nudged off the ball, you get him out of the way!
“The first [second] goal when Gomez was off the pitch, again it’s this soft idea that you can’t defend with 10 men. There’s an absolute softness to them. They’ve gone a little bit nice in bits that they do and that’s not them.
“I wouldn’t say they’re a whingy bunch on the pitch, but there’s an element of looking at them and feeling like they’ve been hard done to a little bit and they’ve got to get rid of that attitude if that’s what’s developing inside.”
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There were some AWFUL performances vs Bournemouth
Losing Robertson makes Liverpool even nicer
Neville highlights Van Dijk in his criticism, but the Dutchman has never been the kind of player to cause arguments on the pitch.
If you go through that Liverpool team, there really is nobody who stands out as someone who doesn’t mind sticking the boot in and doing anything possible to win. Curtis Jones perhaps, but the Scouser can let things get the better of him at times.
Robertson always played just on the edge but was experienced enough to know when to rein it in. Liverpool need a bit of that right now.
It is just another reason why selling Robertson makes no sense for the Reds this January. They need to find some grit from somewhere and the Scotland captain is the very best candidate for that.
There is some merit in being ‘nice’ as a football team if you are playing good football and winning week after week. But when times are hard you need your big characters to stand up and dig deep. For Liverpool, that means Robertson.
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