Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Andrew Robertson’s shoulder surgery “went well” in his latest update on the unavailable Reds left-back.
Robertson suffered the injury on international duty with Scotland last week, colliding with Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon during a Euro 2024 qualifier and then having his opponent fall on him.
The 29-year-old was immediately in visible discomfort and his shirt was rolled up into a makeshift sling as he walked off the pitch. Robertson was later spotted wearing a proper sling once home and it was then confirmed that he would have to undergo surgery to repair the problem.
At that stage, prior to last weekend’s Merseyside derby against Everton, Klopp explained that Robertson would be out of action “for a while”. The decision for surgical intervention, although better in the long-term, drastically increases recovery time.
No official timeframe has been put on Robertson’s return, but three months is fairly typical and in this case would mean a comeback around late January.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday before Liverpool are due to face Toulouse in the Europa League this week, Klopp was asked for the latest news on Robertson’s condition.
“Robbo has had surgery and it all went well,” the boss explained. “It all went as good as it could go so recovery starts after he wakes up. I think it happened this morning, so that is it. We don’t know how long that will take but the first step is done and that is good.”
Kostas Tsimikas is the automatic choice to stand in for Robertson during his absence. The Greece international has played understudy ever since arriving at Anfield from Olympiacos in 2020, but made his first Premier League start of the season in the 2-0 win over Everton.
He was withdrawn around half an hour before the end, but as part of a tactical change from Klopp designed to turn the screw on Everton with the score-line still 0-0 at that stage.