Liverpool completely FORGETTING another key star amid big three contract talks | OneFootball

It has been a rough few years years for Liverpool fans.

Jurgen Klopp’s all-conquering team has been slowly dismantled and the great manager himself decided to part ways with the club at the end of the 2023/24 campaign. It has been emotional goodbye after emotional goodbye.

While it isn’t impossible that Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk all pen new deals at Anfield, it does seem unlikely meaning at least one more emotionally draining farewell is on the cards this summer.

And only then, when we know what is going on with the skipper, the vice-captain and the legendary forward, will the majority of people start looking ahead.

As things stand, it doesn’t get any easier.

The contract situation at Anfield is a mess, to put it lightly.

Liverpool's Andy Robertson contract problem

There’s been no mention at all of the fact Andrew Robertson is out of contract in 18 months.

In normal circumstances, this would be a topic of conversation most weeks.

After all, it is a big story.

A key part of this Liverpool team is, as things stand, set to leave Anfield on a free transfer at the end of the 2025/26 campaign. There should be daily debates on whether or not he should be getting a contract renewal. There should be arguments over whether he’s on the wane and discussions about whether the Reds should look to cash in on him this summer.

All of the usual discourse.

Just as was the case with Gini Wijnaldum, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Joel Matip. Just as is the case with Salah, Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk.

Instead, anything centred around the No26 right now is just getting lost in the ‘not this summer’ noise, along with things that simply aren’t at all comparable or similar.

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So, let’s talk about it.

First things first, losing Robertson would be a blow, both on and off the pitch.

He’s a character and part of the leadership team at the club. Replacing him in the dressing room would be almost impossible.

Replacing him on the pitch might be a little easier.

The Scotland skipper hasn’t been in the best form this season and was singled out by Gary Neville earlier in the campaign.

He struggled against Noni Madueke in Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Chelsea and then followed up that showing with another disappointing first half against Arsenal. Bukayo Saka rinsed the 30-year-old for the opener, putting the full-back on the floor before lashing in the opening goal.

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Robertson was then dropped to the bench for wins over Brighton and Bayer Leverkusen before returning to the starting XI for the game against Aston Villa.

The former Hull City man recently opened up about those difficult few weeks.

“The last couple of games I’ve been on the bench and I got doubters for the first time in a long time, first time at this club. But it suits me in this position. I am trying to prove people wrong again.

“I am a lot older and a lot wiser now than when I came in. When I first came in I was only 23, first time playing for a big club. I have been here for seven years and won everything, played in a lot of big games. I am a lot more experienced and a lot better at switching off from everything like overreactions and things like that.

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“Probably a bad 45 minutes of football against Arsenal, it was not great. I think pretty much everyone had written me off after that. That is football and that is what happens these days. People can write me off all they want. But I will always try to keep working, keep improving, I have tried to do that and hopefully I have shown that [against Villa].”

The thing is, this might not be a blip in form. There’s a real possibility that Robertson is on the decline after playing a lot of intense football since the move to Merseyside. There are a lot of minutes in his legs and for a player who is famed for his high-energy and tenacity, any slight drop-off will be noticeable.

Liverpool appear to have noticed it. It is hard not to. Injuries are catching up to him with a knee issue impacting his 2022/23 campaign and a shoulder injury sustained on international duty putting a dent in his 2023/24 season. He missed the majority of pre-season with an ankle injury too.

The Reds have reacted to this and have been linked with a host of left-backs already this season. Former Manchester United full-back Alvaro Carreras is reportedly a target, Liverpool have been long-time admirers of Rayan Ait Nouri while there’s now interest in Milos Kerkez, as we exclusively revealed last week.

Robertson has an almost impossible task right now. He can’t play his way to a new deal as no new deals are currently being offered out. And his replacement is already being lined up. Not the best way to treat a Liverpool legend but highlights how problematic the contract situation is at the minute.