Andy Robertson transfer question has obvious answer after 17-minute Liverpool nightmare

‘You’re only as good as your last game’. In the quick-paced nature of elite level football where memories are short, Andy Robertson has found out just how true such a cliche is the hard way.

Against Girona, he was Liverpool’s star outfield player as they fought their way to a 1-0 victory despite a sub-par performance. His overall showing saw the Scot named Player of the Match by UEFA.

His sixth start in a row in the absence of the injured Kostas Tsimikas, the left-back was slowly returning to top form after a difficult 12 months for club and country where he has faced growing scrutiny and struggled with form, consistency and injuries.

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Substituted after just 63 minutes against Arsenal back in October, having been given the runaround by Bukayo Saka, Robertson later admitted that people had ‘written me off’.

Now on the wrong side of 30 and out of contract in 2026, onlookers theorised that he would become the latest modern Liverpool legend to suddenly decline after the likes of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho in 2022/23.

The Reds continue to find themselves linked with a plethora of left-backs, including the likes of Fulham’s Antonee Robinson, AFC Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Rayan Aït-Nouri. Anfield bosses will be aware they need to weigh up a long-term successor for Robertson regardless of how much truth there actually is to such sentiments.

But the Scot had at least reiterated his quality in recent weeks, helping Liverpool keep clean sheets against the likes of Real Madrid and Man City before his Player of the Match showing against Girona.

‘You’re only as good as your last game’. After facing Girona, Robertson’s pedigree was continuing to be restored. But it took just 17 minutes for all the doubts and fears to come back out after his next showing against Fulham.

In the first minute he was on the receiving end of a knee-high challenge from Issa Diop that remarkably only resulted in a yellow card. Robertson bravely played on, but it soon became clear that he was suffering some ill-effects.

He lost Andreas Pereira’s at the far post for Fulham’s opener, with his positioning ultimately blocking Alisson Becker’s view before deflecting the Brazilian’s volley into the net.

He was then sent off for denial of a goalscoring opportunity after tripping Harry Wilson, having failed to recover following a poor touch when attempting to cut out a crossfield pass to the former Liverpool starlet.

Both Arne Slot and Reds captain Virgil van Dijk would point to the aforementioned knock to his knee as a contributing factor to the mistake that led to his dismissal.

But football is a cold business. Critics see an error and once again use it as a stick to beat Robertson with and sign off on his decline.

It did not help the Scot that the similarly-named Robinson flourished for Fulham, putting in a performance that Robertson would have been proud of when up against Mohamed Salah.

The United States international, who is also a former Everton youngster, left Anfield with two assists to his name having crossed for both Pereira and Rodrigo Muniz following blistering runs down the left to twice fire Fulham in front.

That was enough for some to stare doe-eyed at the Cottagers captain. He would later set tongues wagging by liking comments on his Instagram post urging him to join Liverpool.

His manager, Marco Silva, would admit that he considers Robinson the best left-back in the Premier League as he alluded to the looming January transfer window.

“What a performance. Difficult to express in words the performance of Robinson this afternoon,” the Portuguese said. “You are asking a Fulham manager (if he is the best left-back in the Premier League), of course I am going to say yes.

“I don’t want to speak too much about him because I know January is coming and it’s going to be the same story about Robinson. I don’t want to go in that direction. He is crucial for us as a player.”

Inevitably, with just 17 days to go until the January transfer window opens, speculation is about to ramp up. Consequently, Liverpool will continue to find themselves linked with left-backs, while over at Craven Cottage, Robinson’s own future will remain the subject of speculation.

At 27 years old, it would perhaps be a slight surprise if the Reds did turn to the American. Rather than look for new signings, perhaps one of the club’s youngsters will eventually step up instead.

After all, while Robertson and Robinson enjoyed contrasting fortunes at Anfield on Saturday afternoon, 40 miles away at Ewood Park, Liverpool loanee Owen Beck continued his eye-catching loan stint at Blackburn Rovers by scoring in their 2-0 victory over Luton Town.

But it is still somewhat hasty to be writing off Robertson and hoping the club source a mid-season replacement off the back of his showing against Fulham.

Yet the left-back’s doubters are about to get what they want. The Scotland captain will be unavailable against Southampton in midweek, with it remaining to be seen if he is kept out any longer by a knee injury.

Slot will need to name a replacement on Wednesday but, with Tsimikas still injured, will likely have to select a makeshift backline at St. Mary’s. With Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley also still absent, he is left with only four available senior defenders to choose from.

The Dutchman previously revealed he expected his three injured defenders to be back available come January, seemingly dismissing the possibility of signing any replacements when the transfer window re-opens.

Still, Liverpool are about to get an immediate glimpse into the future at a life without Robertson. Slot will hope his absence only lasts for one game.

In the meantime, the Scotland international remains ‘only as good as his last game,’ as he is written off once more after a difficult display. But upon his return, Robertson will again look to prove that such claims and doubts are in fact somewhat premature.

Make no mistake, it would be naïve to think an internal search for a long-term replacement at left-back is not quietly underway, given the long-serving defender's age and contract status.

But Liverpool won't be signing his death warrant and accelerating plans for Robertson's successor off the back of one injury-influenced 17-minute display.