Liverpool needed to be satisfied to make a key signing by former supervisor Jurgen Klopp, which has since was a profitable cut price for the Reds.
Ian Graham labored at Liverpool in the summertime of 2017 because the ex-head of analysis, overseeing the membership’s recruitment division which relied closely on information to make selections.
Mohamed Salah arrived that yr regardless of Klopp as a substitute wanting to usher in Julian Brandt, however roles had been reversed when the German boss needed a brand new left-back. Whereas the info instructed Benjamin Mendy and Emerson Palmieri must be the priorities for the Reds, Klopp had different concepts.
Liverpool signed Andy Robertson due to Jurgen Klopp
Robertson is a key participant for Liverpool (Picture credit score: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC by way of Getty Photographs)
Although Andy Robertson had simply been relegated from the Premier League with Hull , Klopp noticed potential within the Scotsman and made a plea to carry him to Anfield, though the info instructed in any other case. The 2 golf equipment managed to agree an £8m deal, in a charge that now seems like an absolute cut price.
“His defensive rankings weren’t good,” Graham admits to FourFourTwo . “Hull had been relegated enjoying an open type and a again 4 – they’d performed a again 5 within the Championship and had a extremely good defence, so he went from trying actually good to essentially unhealthy.
With out Klopp Liverpool may by no means have signed Robertson
“Our concern was which defender are we getting? However Jurgen mentioned, ‘If he does have defensive weaknesses, we will cowl them up by overlaying him from midfield, I want a full-back with attacking high quality’.
“Alberto Moreno was the earlier left-back and was related – good at attacking, however possibly questionable defensively. The explanation we had been getting one other full-back was we thought we might enhance on that, however we had been getting an analogous profile, in order that was Jurgen convincing us.
“He was excessive on our record and we had been blissful to signal him, however we simply needed to make it clear that if he made a defensive mistake, don’t complain to us! Because it turned out, he’s made only a few errors. He’s an incredible defender.”
Robertson has since gone onto make 300 appearances in his seven-and-a-half years at Anfield, laying on a excessive variety of assists and offering a continuing risk from left-back.
Robertson joined Liverpool from Hull
His performances have seen him been included twice within the PFA Group of the 12 months, whereas the 34-year-old has picked up a Premier League trophy, a Champions League crown, FA Cup medal and two League Cups throughout his time at Liverpool – with potential for extra silverware come the top of 2024/25.
