20 October 2023 , 13:29
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Andy Robertson is set for three months on the sidelines after Liverpool decided to opt for surgery on his shoulder injury.
Robertson was injured in a collision with Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon just before half-time in Scotland's 2-0 defeat last Thursday. The 29-year-old defender was substituted in clear pain and was later diagnosed with a dislocated right shoulder.
He was pictured wearing a sling earlier this week, sparking fears of a long-term problem and, speaking ahead of the Merseyside derby on Saturday, Jurgen Klopp confirmed the outcome. "The decision is we go towards surgery,” he said. "There was a chance he could try without but, having talked to experts, surgery will be the best thing for him in the long-term especially. He's out for a while, we don't know exactly how long.”
Without surgery, Robertson could have been back playing within around four weeks, but that option carried risk of a recurrence. Klopp added: “You only see the real extent of injury when you have a look into it, like properly open (up the shoulder) and fix it, but my experience tells me around about three months.
“That’s shoulder (injury), usually, not a lot of times you say it was earlier, but Robbo is a quick healer, that is true. In this specific case we have to make sure the shoulder structure is stable, because the moment the boy starts all the normal contact stuff again, the player has to be ready for that.”
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The injury comes as a significant blow for Liverpool. Robertson, who will undergo surgery on Wednesday, has played every minute of their Premier League campaign so far this season, scoring in their 3-1 comeback win over Wolves last month. The Scotland international is in his eighth season with Liverpool and has established himself as a key player for Klopp at left-back.
Andy Robertson had played every minute for Liverpool in the Premier League this season (Getty Images) HAVE YOUR SAY! How big a miss will Andy Robertson be for Liverpool? Comment below.
Klopp will likely turn to Kostas Tsimikas to fill in for Robertson in Saturday’s 12.30pm kick-off against Everton at Anfield. The Greece international has been Robertson’s deputy since joining Liverpool from Olympiacos in August 2020 and Klopp is confident he will step up to the plate.
"It’s very important to have players like that,” he said when asked about Tsimikas. “Thank God, it's not only Kostas we have like that. Joe Gomez can play the position. Luke Chambers and other young boys. We have a lot of talent, we have the young boys showing up and they have shown we can use all of them.”
The injury to Robertson is not Klopp’s only concern for the Merseyside derby, with the international break giving the Liverpool boss a headache. "It's a tricky selection,” he said. “Some of the boys came back yesterday and it was an easy session, come in, warm-up and a rondo. We have to talk to them, see how they are feeling. Travelling was better [organised] this time, that helped. We just find the right players for the intensity."
Liverpool are fourth in the Premier League, three points behind leaders Tottenham and Arsenal following a 2-1 loss to Spurs and a 2-2 draw with Brighton before the break. They will attempt to break their two-game winless run against 16th-placed Everton, who have only won once at Anfield in the Premier League since 1999.
After the derby comes a third Europa League group stage game against French side Toulouse on Thursday. Following that is a third successive match at Anfield, with Nottingham Forest paying a visit in the Premier League. The Reds then head to Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup fourth round to start November and travel to Luton.