BBC pundit Garth Crooks heaped praise on Liverpool left-back Andrew Robertson after Liverpool kept up their winning record in the Premier League with a 3-1 victory over Newcastle.
Robertson, 25, got his first assist of the season as he set up Sadio Mane for the first of his two goals, after Newcastle had taken a shock lead in the seventh minute through Jetro Willems.
Writing in his column for the BBC, Crooks said, “It must have been excruciating for Steve Bruce to watch the player he brought to English football tear his resurgent Newcastle apart.
“The Scottish international was outstanding yet again for Liverpool. Robertson was so effective down Liverpool’s left-hand side and almost entirely responsible for Sadio Mane’s brilliant opening goal. My only criticism of Robertson is someone who strikes the ball as cleanly as he does should be having more shots on goal. He has the firepower, now apply the confidence.”
TiF Tactics – Robertson on the rise
Robertson was given a 7.8 rating by WhoScored, more than his counterpart on the other flank, Alexander-Arnold, who got a 7.3.
The assist Robertson provided for Sadio Mane marked his first attacking returns this season after he registered an impressive 11 assists in the 18/19 campaign. He didn’t score last season, though, and his last goal – his only goal for Liverpool – came in the final game of the 17/18 season against Brighton.
Crooks wants him to shoot more and through his career he’s got a record of 0.45 shots per 90 minutes. He’s already delivering at a much higher rate so far this season, with 1.13 per 90 minutes. He took two shots in the first game of the season against Norwich, and again in the north London derby against Arsenal. [WyScout]
By contrast, right-back Alexander-Arnold is quicker to let fly at goal. He’s taken 1.32 shots on goal per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season, and boasts 0.96 per 90 minutes through his career – more than double that of Robertson.
Liverpool aren’t short of players willing to shoot – in fact Sadio Mane was left angry after Mohamed Salah went on his own once too often in the game against Burnley – but Robertson could surely add more goals to his game if he starts shooting more. He gets himself into advanced positions for Liverpool regularly but more often than not looks for the pass rather than having a go himself.
As for Bruce, it must have been tough to watch the player he signed at Hull for £3m come back and haunt him at Anfield.