‘Big decision’ – Arne Slot urged to drop Liverpool star for Champions League

Arne Slot has been urged to make a ‘big decision’ by dropping a Liverpool player for the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Despite producing a fairly dismal Premier League title defence – slipping to sixth in the table – Liverpool have impressed in Europe, finishing third in the Champions League group phase.

The Reds won six of their eight group games and were rewarded with a winnable last-16 tie against Galatasaray.

While Galatasaray boast a four-point lead at the top of the Turkish Super Lig, they finished just 20th in the Champions League, losing half of their group matches.

Liverpool will therefore be expected to advance at the expense of Galatasaray, with the first leg of the last-16 tie taking place in Turkey on Tuesday night.

Liverpool suffered a shock defeat to Premier League basement boys Wolves last week before returning to winning ways against the same opposition in the FA Cup.

Andy Robertson starred in the recent game, scoring Liverpool’s opener before setting up Mohamed Salah’s goal just two minutes later.

Milos Kerkez has predominately played ahead of Robertson since his £40m move from Bournemouth last summer but Alan Shearer and Micah Richards both believe the experienced Scot should be picked for Liverpool’s Champions League games.

Robertson has made over 350 appearances for Liverpool over the past decade, helping the Anfield club win two Premier League titles, the Champions League and three domestic cups.

‘Let’s get a full-back’s perspective on one of the Premier League’s great full-backs, Andy Robertson,’ Gary Lineker said on The Rest is Football podcast.

‘Do you think he should have played more this season? It’s easy to say in hindsight because they obviously spend a few bob on Milos Kerkez and he struggled a little bit. But I think they’ve really missed Robertson.’

Ex-Manchester City and England defender Richards replied: ‘I think the feeling amongst Liverpool fans was that they needed to get someone in.

‘So I think they did the right thing signing Kerkez. It’s the output that Robertson does, he’s up and down and up and down, but he’s in his 30s now and there was some games last season that it became a problem.

‘So I think it was right to get Kerkez but I would have played Robertson more, especially in the bigger games, because of his experience and knowing that position.

‘Kerkez was outstanding at Bournemouth and we all thought he would fit in seamlessly but he was quite reckless and rash at the start.

‘He’s grown into it but in the big games I would still play Robertson and if I needed more energy I would go with Kerkez.’

Premier League record goalscorer Shearer added: ‘He’s got a big decision to make when they play Galatasaray away. After Robertson’s performance, Slot has a big decision to make.’

Richards then said: ‘You’ve got to play Andy Robertson. Just for his knowhow and experience in such a big game. I would definitely play Robertson, without a doubt.’

Shearer agreed with Richards, saying: ‘That’s what I would do, yeah.’

Liverpool visited Galatasaray in the group stage of the Champions League, losing 1-0 thanks to Victor Osimhen’s first-half penalty.

The two European giants have met five times in total, with Galatasaray winning two of those games to Liverpool’s one.

The winner of this last-16 tie will face either Champions League holders PSG or Club World Cup winners Chelsea in the quarter-finals.

In-between their last-16 legs against Galatasaray, Liverpool will look to boost their top-four hopes against Premier League relegation-battlers Tottenham.

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