Exclusive: Ex-Red backs Klopp to drop key Liverpool star in Merseyside derby despite great Southampton game 🤯

Would you back that suggestion, Reds?

Stan Collymore has suggested that Jurgen Klopp may look to hand Andy Robertson a break during Liverpool’s upcoming meeting with city rivals Everton.

Kostas Tsimikas, the Scot’s understudy, could be set to be drafted in, having enjoyed a series of positive performances when called upon by the Reds boss.

“Is there an argument at left-back?” the former Liverpool striker exclusively told EOTK Insider, when discussing the possibility of Klopp rotating his first-XI. “Robbo had a really good game but he’s obviously been baby-sat into games and his form has been a little bit patchy, it’s fair to say. Could we take him out and give him a little bit of a rest?”

It’s a surprising call, to say the least, following the fullback’s tireless performance in the four-goal demolition of Southampton at the weekend.

Having said that, Klopp has certainly proven he’s not above making ruthless calls for the good of the team where necessary, and with the fixtures piling up in December, some rotation will be absolutely critical.

“We’re getting to the stage now, whether we like it or not, FA Cup Third Round is gonna be coming, lots of games over the clichéd busy Christmas period,” Collymore added.

“For me, it’s very simple. You keep the core of your team, the spine - so that would be Alisson, Van Dijk, Fabinho, Mo and Sadio Mane and Jota (a T-shaped spine if you like).

“But I think he [Jurgen Klopp] will probably make one or two changes.

“Where I would look to freshen things up... I think that Tsimikas - you have to reward the games he's played and done well.

“It might be the case where he thinks he can come in, particularly down that left-hand side, and create havoc.

“But I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Liverpool went in unchanged as well.”

It would seem foolish to drop one of our most energetic and physical starters for a tie that he is fundamentally made for in the Merseyside derby.

Certainly, this will be one of Klopp’s most challenging fixtures to navigate this term, regardless of the Toffees’ dire run of form of late.

The German won’t be able to afford many changes for a tie of such magnitude though, we wouldn’t be devastated if Tsimikas was given the nod in light of the quality of the Greek international’s performances this term.

We could use another gutsy game from Robertson down the left-flank but we wouldn’t necessarily be getting a significant drop-off from our No.21 either.

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