'It's poor': John Arne Riise left unimpressed by what Andy Robertson did against Leicester tonight
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Liverpool did not enjoy a good first-half as they faced Leicester City on Boxing Day.
The Reds knew they could pull further clear at the top of the Premier League on Thursday after Chelsea lost to Fulham earlier in the day.
But things could hardly have gotten off to a worse start at a foggy Anfield.
Inside six minutes relegation threatened Leicester were ahead. It was against the run of play on the night, but Jordan Ayew’s touch, turn and finish was excellent at the Anfield Road end.
From a Liverpool point of view, however, the goal was certainly preventable.
As he often has been of late, Andy Robertson was the closest to the scene of the crime. And speaking at half-time, former Reds left-back John Arne Riise was not impressed.
John Arne Riise criticises Andy Robertson display
Robertson has come in for criticism recently having cost Liverpool a number of times.
The 30-year-old was sent off in Liverpool’s last Premier League game at Anfield, putting them up against it during the 2-2 draw with Fulham.
His failure to cut out the ball to Ayew was nowhere near as bad as that, but it still left a lot to be desired.
And working on punditry for Amazon Prime Sport on Thursday, Riise highlighted it as a poor bit of defending from Robertson.
READ MORE: Liverpool's top Boxing Day goalscorers in Premier League era ahead of Leicester City clash
“It’s bad defending,” slammed the Norwegian. “Look at Robertson even before he crosses, his body position is wrong. Then he should stay, let the striker do the work but Robertson lets the striker turn.
“It’s poor defending,” adds Riise. “He should just stay behind the striker and wait for him to do something, but he made the decision and made it easier for Ayew.”
Robertson needs a rest
It was not just the slack marking from Robertson for the first goal against Leicester. The Scot was poor from dead-balls, too.
He was not quite as wasteful as Trent Alexander-Arnold in that respect, but Robertson was still far from his best with balls into the box.
And although his all-round play was actually better than it has been at times recently, it’s clear that the No.26 could do with a rest.
Kostas Tsimikas is now back fit again and after starting Robertson for the past eight matches, it’s time Arne Slot used the Greek.
Robbo has been a brilliant, wonderful player for Liverpool. But it’s time to give him a rest at West Ham.
