The worth of veterans has been evident at high golf equipment in recent times, and Liverpool can be smart to rigorously think about the impact on the squad of dropping Andy Robertson.
Youth or expertise? Starvation or know-how? Power or experience?
Standard knowledge says that you just want a little bit of each to be a profitable soccer group, however each facet leans nearer to 1 excessive or the opposite – it’s unattainable to remain within the center.
Liverpool have tried to keep up that stability, re-signing a pair of 33-year-olds in Mo Salah and Virgil Van Dijk for subsequent season, whereas already including 4 gamers aged 24 and underneath to the squad.
That quartet represents the way forward for the membership, however within the current, it might imply that a few of Liverpool’s most celebrated performers will likely be consigned to the previous.
Andy Robertson is at a crossroads
Robertson has emerged as a switch goal for Atletico Madrid, and experiences counsel that the Scotland captain is open to the opportunity of becoming a member of his good pal Trent Alexander-Arnold within the Spanish capital.
He has one 12 months remaining on his present contract and whereas he has spoken about discussing a brand new take care of the membership, that at present seems like an unlikely final result.
The prospect of spending his closing 12 months at Anfield as back-up for Milos Kerkez could not attraction to a proud footballer who nonetheless believes in his capability to compete at Champions League degree.
There are various who wouldn’t agree with that evaluation. Final season confirmed clear indicators that Robertson was now not in his prime.
He was given a torrid time by Noni Madueke and Bukayo Saka in back-to-back league video games in October, earlier than conceding two penalties in every week towards Southampton and Actual Madrid in November. By the point of his pink card towards Fulham in December, the requires a brand new left-back among the many fanbase have been unattainable to disregard.
And but, Arne Slot picked him for the subsequent league recreation at Tottenham and he retained his standing as beginning left-back till the Premier League was gained.
In complete, Robertson began 35 out of a potential 48 video games throughout the Premier League and Champions League, and he was granted the duty to guide an inexperienced facet in Eindhoven from the unfamiliar place of centre-back. There isn’t any doubt that he retained the belief of his head coach.
Liverpool should weigh up their choices
For sporting director Richard Hughes and the important thing decision-makers, it’s a troublesome determination as to what represents the very best worth.
Is it higher to take away a excessive wage earner and get a payment, even a ‘small’ one, for somebody who might go away for nothing in 12 months?
Or ought to they hold a key member of the taking part in squad and the management group, a person who is aware of what it takes to win and retains a powerful affect among the many youthful gamers?
The worth of veterans is a subject debated throughout all group sports activities and goes past what they produce on the pitch.
It additionally encompasses offering management throughout a protracted, perilous season, sustaining requirements in coaching and cultivating a tradition that makes new members really feel like a part of the group and due to this fact in a position to give their greatest.
These intangibles are unattainable to definitively assess and, in consequence, there are a large number of differing examples.
NBA star Udonis Haslem spent 20 years with the Miami Warmth, profitable three championships alongside LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Nevertheless, for the ultimate seven seasons of his profession, he didn’t play greater than 16 out of 82 regular-season video games.
His position was because the ambassador for ‘Warmth Tradition’, imposing their strict pointers throughout the locker room and on the group airplane within the moments and areas the place the coaches had no affect.
Haslem was seen by all as integral to groups that reached the NBA Finals in 2020 and 2023, regardless of barely stepping on the courtroom.
The closest we’ve seen to Haslem within the Premier League is Scott Carson.
The previous Liverpool, Leeds and Derby goalkeeper spent six seasons at Man Metropolis as third-choice goalkeeper, and he grew to become a well-liked member of the squad that gained 4 consecutive league titles in addition to the treble in 2022/23, all whereas making only one solitary look.
His dedication on the coaching pitch, the motivation of these he knew would cease him from seeing motion and his innate capability to lighten the temper have been important not solely to these on the elite degree, however in keeping with Pep Guardiola, he was the proper position mannequin for younger gamers trying to attain these heights.
“The perfect recommendation I might give to the younger gamers is to remain round Scott Carson as a lot as potential within the locker room and on the pitch,” Guardiola stated in 2022.
“It will be higher than being with me. It’s just like the younger actors must be with the previous actors on the set. They’re wiser and have the values of the career.”
Wataru Endo’s position as a ‘nearer’ has its deserves
Liverpool have benefited from related qualities from their former third goalkeeper Adrian, who was given a brand new deal at a time when he was unlikely to get extra recreation time.
There’s an much more latest instance in Wataru Endo. Thirty-four begins in Klopp’s closing season was simply seven in 2024/25, as he was diminished to the place of the nearer, tasked with defending a lead in 10-minute cameos.
In a World Cup 12 months, it might be comprehensible if the captain of Japan wished to function extra typically, however Endo has already ended any hypothesis a couple of potential departure this summer time.
The 32-year-old channelled any disappointment in his demotion into motivation to be a star in his position, saying (h/t Soccer Digest): “Within the skilled world, it’s a must to present the that means of your existence.
“I don’t assume individuals would name me a better if I had entered the sport with 10 minutes left and conceded each time.”
That degree of delight in your work is infectious and at an enormous membership like Liverpool, the place there will likely be gifted gamers who aren’t getting the minutes they really feel they deserve, a person like Endo is essential to retain squad concord.
“However what concerning the different facet of delight, when your delight doesn’t can help you settle for a task on the bench, significantly after years as a starter?
Jordan Henderson was broadly praised for his management qualities, however when the second got here to step apart into the shadows, he requested to go away. In contrast to his ready deputy James Milner, he felt he couldn’t disguise his particular person frustrations for the great of the collective.
Liverpool’s rivals are taking various approaches
In some circumstances, it could be helpful in case your reserves are younger and hungry somewhat than previous and disgruntled – that’s definitely the opinion at Stamford Bridge.
The switch coverage of the house owners, Clearlake Capital, is to fill the squad with gifted kids. Final season, not one of the 29 gamers who took to the sector within the Premier League have been over the age of 29. The one man in his 30s on the membership, Marcus Bettinelli, has simply been bought to Manchester Metropolis.
For his or her half, Man Metropolis are on the different finish of the spectrum, with 9 gamers of their 30s that includes, though solely Ederson, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva will be thought-about integral.
A lot of these 9 have been rumoured to be on the transfer, with Kevin De Bruyne having already departed. Nevertheless, Bernardo has simply been named membership captain, so there will likely be some totems of success nonetheless in place.
Based on most observers, Man Metropolis failed final season as a result of they have been too previous. Chelsea’s title problem fell aside as a result of that they had no skilled head to information them by the robust instances.
Liverpool, with 5 gamers over the age of 30, and Endo the one one to not break the 3000-minute barrier, seem to have gotten the stability good, however because the Robertson rumours show, it’s a perpetual downside.
