Shearer and Richards back Robertson over Kerkez for Galatasaray showdown

Liverpool head to Turkey on Tuesday evening for the opening leg of their Champions League knockout tie against Galatasaray, looking to exact revenge on the side that bested them in the group stages back in September when Victor Osimhen's solitary strike separated the two teams.

With selection dilemmas to unravel, Arne Slot faces a particularly thorny choice at left-back, where both Milos Kerkez and Andy Robertson are pushing their cases for inclusion in the starting lineup.

Kerkez's first campaign at Anfield has proven inconsistent, though the summer recruit has recently edged ahead of Robertson in Premier League encounters. That said, Robertson reminded observers of his credentials with an assured display in Friday's 3-1 FA Cup victory over Wolves.

On The Rest is Football podcast, Gary Lineker broached the left-back conundrum with Micah Richards, asking whether Robertson deserved greater opportunities this term. Lineker acknowledged Liverpool's summer investment in Kerkez while suggesting the club had nonetheless missed Robertson's consistent contributions.

Richards offered a nuanced take on the situation. He recognised the rationale behind bringing Kerkez to Merseyside, noting that supporters had felt reinforcements were necessary. However, he highlighted concerns about Robertson's durability in recent campaigns, particularly at his current age in his 30s.

"Kerkez was exceptional at Bournemouth," Richards observed, "and everyone expected him to settle instantly. But he's been rather careless in patches early on. He's improved, though for the heavyweight occasions I'd lean towards Robertson given his familiarity with that role."

Alan Shearer characterised the left-back decision as a significant one facing Slot, particularly with Galatasaray awaiting. Following Robertson's recent showing, the former Newcastle striker suggested the manager had a "big decision" to make.

Richards was emphatic in his conclusion: "You've simply got to field Robertson. His tactical intelligence and big-game experience make him the obvious choice here. I'd play him without hesitation."

Shearer concurred with that assessment.