Forget Gravenberch: Slot's 6/10 Liverpool star showed why he must be axed

Liverpool could only draw against Crystal Palace to close their 2024/25 Premier League campaign. Oh well. Arne Slot’s side could be afforded a loosening of standards after such dominance for the lion’s share of the year.

No one gave the Reds a shot, but they scored the biggest prize of them all in climbing back onto their perch by winning their 20th top-flight title, levelling with beleaguered rivals Manchester United in the all-time standings.

It’s been an unrelenting year, and it’s understandable that the hosts would struggle to impose themselves against Palace, the FA Cup champions, with Mohamed Salah lashing home from close range late on to close his extraordinary term.

However, there’s no denying Liverpool have faltered since sealing the trophy, claiming only two points from a possible 12. Now, it’s all about rest and recovery across the summer months, before returning to defend their title and challenge across other fronts next season.

Sadly, the champions will be forced to begin their second season under Slot’s wing without Ryan Gravenberch in the squad, for he was sent off before the hour mark.

Why Ryan Gravenberch was sent off

On Saturday, Gravenberch was crowned the Premier League’s Young Player of the Season, having risen from middling ranks to become a superstar, an essential piece and the beating heart of Slot’s title-winning team.

He’s been brilliant all year, and maybe saved his biggest blunder for the denouement, hacking down Daichi Kamada and seeing the glare of the red card with Liverpool 1-0 down.

Consequently, the Netherlands international will serve a three-match suspension, missing the Community Shield against the Eagles and the first two fixtures of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign.

It’s a big blow, and any struggle for fluency in those early autumnal weeks will underline the scale of Gravenberch’s role in Slot’s system, with The Athletic’s James Pearce hailing him for being “so effective and influential” for the title winners.

There’s another member of Sunday’s starting line-up who may not find himself in the starting line-up quite so often next year, and it’s not for any disciplinary reason.

Indeed, Andy Robertson showed against Oliver Glasner’s side why Slot and FSG are so keen to replace him in the transfer market this summer.

Andy Robertson showed why he should be axed

Robertson has been at Liverpool since joining from Hull City in a £10m package way back in 2017, with few beyond Anfield Road aware that FSG had snagged themselves a bargain.

Against Crystal Palace, the 31-year-old played his 342nd match for the club, but there’s no question he lacks his one-time athleticism and electricity.

It wasn’t a great display by any stretch, but the Liverpool ECHO’s Ian Doyle did give him a match rating of 6/10, noting he was ‘steady if unspectacular’.

However, the data suggests he left plenty to be desired.

It wasn’t the most efficient day at the office for the Scotland skipper, whose creative skills were blunted and whose defensive application yielded rotten results. Robertson failed to find his man with any of his seven attempted crosses, lost all four duels and couldn’t create a single key pass despite losing the ball 17 times.

Palace’s low block was strong and secure, but Robertson’s errant efforts to breach the defences came to nought, and with Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving for Real Madrid this summer, there’s every reason for Slot to push for a new left-back, one who could offer some increased attacking output.

Next year, there will likely be a spot in the first-team squad for Robertson, who has given Liverpool so much, but it would be to the detriment of this budding project to go again with him in the first-choice position. A new man is needed to take the baton.

And that man might just be Milos Kerkez, with Fabrizio Romano confirming talks are underway as the Reds seek out a long-term replacement.

Bournemouth’s Kerkez has been one of the Premier League’s biggest breakout successes this season, praised for his “absolutely exceptional” efforts by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley.

Still only 21, he’d set Liverpool’s left-back berth up for many seasons, should he sign this summer.

Though Robertson, who is out of contract at the end of next season, hopes to play a role through Slot’s second season and maybe even beyond, it’s clear Kerkez has the capacity to nestle right into a prominent position from the get-go.

Liverpool are on the up, all right, and though Robertson is clearly past his best, he’s played an instrumental role in securing another Premier League title.

However, sentiments aside, the veteran’s performance against Crystal Palace illustrated exactly why an upgrade is needed if Liverpool are to go from strength to strength next term.

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