Liverpool defender Andy Robertson has admitted that he’s had to make some ‘sacrifices’ in recent weeks following the tactical decision to deploy Trent Alexander-Arnold in a new inverted role.
The Scotland full-back, who has become renowned for his lung-busting runs and hard work on the left flank, now finds himself somewhat restricted in an attacking sense due to the fact he joins the central defenders in making a back three when we have possession.
The former Hull City man has admitted that the tactical tweak, which sees Alexander-Arnold operate as a central midfielder when we have the ball, is ‘different’ but with Jurgen Klopp’s side now winning seven consecutive games our No. 26 insists picking up three points is all that matters.
“Yeah, it’s different, maybe a little bit more conservative,” Robertson told Liverpoolfc.com. “Obviously previously maybe we’re used to being more high and wide and offering runs in behind and kind of things like that, but we have obviously tweaked the system a little bit and sometimes you have to make sacrifices and you have to adapt your role a little bit, and I think I’ve managed to do that. It’s been a kind of back three as such and then Trent going in next to Fabinho. As long as the team is winning then everything is fine – that’s the most important thing.
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“Of course, I still try to get involved in attacks, I still want to overlap my winger and things like that but I just need to pick and choose my moments. I think as the games have gone on I’ve got better at picking and choosing the moments, I’ve adapted to the role a lot better. It’s just trying to use that and whatever system we play next season or if we have a couple of systems we can play then it’s about finding yourself within that and bringing the best out of you. There’s probably two different sides of my game depending on what formation we play. But I feel as if I have adapted well to it and, like I said, as long as we keep on winning and we keep progressing as a team then I’ll happily be doing that job.”
Both Robertson and Alexander-Arnold have redefined the full-back position in recent years and they occupy first and second place in regards to all-time Premier League assists by defenders (57 and 53 respectively).
The Scotland captain’s energy and relentless running on the left hand side is something that sets him aside from many other full-backs so it may have came as somewhat of a surprise to see Klopp and Co. limiting his attacking freedom.
But with our No. 66 thriving so much in his new role we can’t see their tactical decision being reversed anytime soon and it’s great to hear that the Glaswegian is happy to do a job for the team.
Trent has registered six assists in his last eight games since taking up his new role and he also found the back of the net against Leicester on Monday night with a stunning strike.
The hope is that we can sneak into the top four during the final two games of the campaign but even if we don’t secure a Champions League spot there are plenty of reasons why we can be optimistic ahead of next season.