Robertson says Liverpool tactics fuelled Alexander-Arnold defensive doubts

Andy Robertson has defended Trent Alexander-Arnold against the long-running doubts over his defending, arguing that Liverpool’s tactical shape frequently placed the former right-back under greater pressure than his fellow full-back.

The Tottenham defender said Alexander-Arnold’s reputation was shaped early and has proved difficult to change, despite major performances in Liverpool’s biggest European matches. The pair were central to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool side, winning the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League the following year.

Quick facts

• Robertson and Alexander-Arnold supplied creativity from Liverpool’s full-back positions during Klopp’s most successful period.
• Robertson said Sadio Mané gave him more defensive support on the left than Mohamed Salah could provide on the right.
• Alexander-Arnold joined Real Madrid in 2025 and has been selected in Thomas Tuchel’s latest England squad.
• Robertson pointed to his former teammate’s displays against Kylian Mbappé at PSG and in Champions League finals.

Speaking about their different roles, Robertson explained that Mané’s willingness to track back meant he often had cover if an opponent got beyond him. Liverpool’s priorities were different on the other side, where Salah was encouraged to remain high and threaten opponents in transition.

That left Alexander-Arnold waiting for central midfield support, often from Jordan Henderson, when Liverpool lost the ball. Robertson said he sometimes felt sympathy for the right-back because of the space he had to protect.

Robertson also believes nationality played a part in the level of attention directed at Alexander-Arnold. He told his former colleague that an English player could receive more praise than an overseas player, but would also face considerably harsher criticism.

Alexander-Arnold became one of the division’s leading assist providers alongside Robertson as Liverpool’s full-backs became key attacking outlets. Yet his defensive work remained a regular target, even during periods when he delivered strongly against elite opponents.

Robertson recalled Alexander-Arnold handling Mbappé in Liverpool’s Champions League meeting with PSG and praised his performances in European finals. In Robertson’s view, the defender was capable of being outstanding in one-on-one situations at his best.

He accepted that Alexander-Arnold, like any defender, has made errors. But Robertson argued that isolated mistakes have reinforced a label placed on the player since his early years in the Liverpool first team, rather than reflecting the full range of his performances.

Alexander-Arnold now has an opportunity to make an impression during England duty under Tuchel. Although he has collected major club honours, he has not consistently held down a starting role for the Three Lions.

At club level, the 27-year-old is also seeking to regain momentum after his 2025 move to Madrid. His start in La Liga has been uneven, leaving him with a significant task to re-establish himself at Real Madrid and recover his highest level.