Liverpool pull plug on departure for star | OneFootball

Liverpool Halt Andrew Robertson Exit as Squad Reality Bites

A veteran full back, a modest fee, a London suitor. Yet as Liverpool have pulled the plug on Tottenham Hotspur’s move for Andrew Robertson, it has become something more revealing, a window into how thin the margins now are at Anfield.

Paul Joyce of The Times reports that Liverpool told Spurs they “could not consider his departure as things stand”, despite talks last week and a proposed package of around £5million. Thomas Frank, described as under pressure, was keen to add leadership and experience. Robertson, now 31 and turning 32 in March, fits that profile neatly.

But for Liverpool, this was not about sentiment alone. It was about necessity.

Squad depth shapes decision

Liverpool were “mindful of Robertson’s outstanding service over the past 8½ years” since his £8.5million arrival from Hull City in 2017. They also accept that “his future is uncertain at the club beyond the end of the season”. That combination, loyalty mixed with pragmatism, often leads to a quiet exit.

This time, it did not. Liverpool assessed their alternatives and decided they did not have enough. Milos Kerkez is the first choice, but Robertson replaced him at half time during the 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth after “an unhappy first half at the Vitality Stadium”. That match, which pushed Liverpool out of the top four, underlined how fragile the depth is.

Photo: IMAGO

Slot’s options are narrowing. Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are both ruled out for the season with serious knee injuries. Kostas Tsimikas could not be recalled from Roma. Joe Gomez suffered a facial blow, and Ibrahima Konaté has been absent following a family bereavement. These are not theoretical problems. They are immediate.

Robertson role for remainder of season

Joyce is clear that Robertson “did not agitate for a move to London” and will “continue to have a role to play for the remainder of the season”. That matters. This is not a player forcing an exit. It is a club deciding that, even with uncertainty ahead, experience now outweighs future planning.

Virgil van Dijk’s stance adds weight. The captain said he “wanted him to stay”, and Slot echoed that desire to keep his players. With Liverpool still in the Champions League and FA Cup, this is a season that can yet be salvaged.

Tottenham pressure and Liverpool priorities

For Spurs, the need is obvious. With Ben Davies injured, Destiny Udogie is their only fit senior left back. Frank would like Djed Spence elsewhere, while Souza, signed from Santos, is raw. For Liverpool, however, letting Robertson go would have been a gamble too far.

This decision speaks less about romance and more about survival. Liverpool are patching holes, not reshaping a squad in comfort.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

From a fan perspective, this feels like a move that tells two stories at once. On one hand, there is pride that Robertson is still valued, still trusted when things get difficult. He has been part of everything, the Champions League, the league title, the relentless intensity down that left side. Letting him go for £5million, even with his contract winding down, would have felt strangely small.

On the other hand, it underlines how tight the squad has become. The fact that Liverpool even considered this, then quickly realised they could not afford to proceed, suggests a lack of real depth planning. Kerkez is clearly the future, but the drop off beyond him is stark. Injuries, loans, and bad timing have left Slot short.

Supporters will likely read this as another sign that this squad needs renewal, not just in headline signings, but in the layers underneath. Keeping Robertson now makes sense. He offers leadership, calm, and familiarity in a season that already feels unsteady. But it also feels like a short term fix.