Liverpool handed Robertson scare as Scotland skipper forced off with injury

12 October 2023 , 19:55

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Liverpool handed Robertson scare as Scotland skipper forced off with injury

Liverpool are sweating on the fitness of Andy Robertson after the left-back appeared to seriously hurt his shoulder in Scotland's European qualifying clash with Spain.

Robertson, 29, led Steve Clarke's side out for the crucial match at the Estadio de La Cartuja with Scotland needing just a point to secure qualification for Euro 2024 next summer. However, Robertson failed to make it to half-time after injuring his shoulder in Seville.

The defender was involved in a nasty collision with Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simon just before the break and was helped off the pitch looking far from comfortable with his arm covered in a makeshift sling.

It remains to be seen whether or not the issue will prevent Robertson from featuring in the Merseyside derby, which takes place a week on Saturday. And that will come as a bitter blow for Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, who has a whole host of players in action over the coming days.

Robertson and Scotland headed into Thursday night's match riding the crest of a wave after winning all five of their previous qualifying matches - including a 2-0 win against Spain back in March.

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Unsurprisingly, Clarke kept faith with the bulk of the team who stunned Spain at Hampden Park, with Ryan Porteous and Jack Hendry replacing Grant Hanley and Kieran Tierney in defence.

The hosts laid siege on Scotland's goal from the off, but Clarke's side went in at the break level following a heroic defensive performance. Robertson was replaced by Everton full-back Nathan Patterson ahead of the second-half.

Liverpool defender Andy Robertson sustained a shoulder injury on Thursday night (AP)

Klopp hit out after the last international break after Liverpool were handed yet another early kick-off immediately after the break. Their match against Wolves was a 12.30pm Saturday kick-off last month; the 12th Saturday lunchtime kick-off immediately after an international break Klopp has had since arriving at Anfield.

Next weekend's Merseyside derby will now make that 13. Prior to that knowledge, Klopp hit out at the authorities last month. He fumed: “If I say a word about it then the world says, ‘He’s moaning again’. It is a joke. We had four players in South America who I haven’t even seen yet. In 24 hours we play Wolves.

“We have four international breaks by March and for two of them we already have the 12.30 kick-off (immediately afterwards). But we cannot change it. We will never change that, whoever we talk to.

"Now the TV channel has a different name, but obviously it doesn’t change anything at all. They don’t give a… so why should I talk about that? We didn’t think about it.”

Dan Marsh