Arne Slot said that he ‘needs’ Andy Robertson to stay at Liverpool this month, with the player in talks over a move to Tottenham.
Robertson came on at half-time as Liverpool were beaten 3-2 by Bournemouth on Saturday, replacing Milos Kerkez.
The Scotland international, 31, has been at Liverpool since 2017 and is widely regarded as a club legend, but Standard Sport understands Tottenham are in advanced talks to sign him this month.
Kerkez has generally been Slot’s first-choice right-back this season, but the Dutchman has still made regular use of Robertson.
Throughout this campaign, Slot has bemoaned the lack of depth in his Liverpool squad, which has rather limited his prospects as he looks to compete on four fronts, and he echoed the same theme as he spoke after the Bournemouth match.
Asked whether he wanted Robertson to stay at Liverpool this month, he said he could not afford to lose another player.
“I think I need all my players,” said Slot at full-time. “Robbo had to come in at half-time, in my opinion. I always knew that for Milos (Kerkez), another 90 minutes against a very intense Bournemouth side was not a possibility for him, so I knew I would have to bring (Robertson) in.
“I had already had one substitution in the first-half, then you only have two moments left, so I thought ‘let’s bring Robbo in at half-time to make sure Milos stays available for the rest of the season’.
“There’s a lot of games to be played with the players available. I have to manage that as well.
“The last thing we could need right now is another injury.”
