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Former Liverpool defender John Arne Riise believes Antonee Robinson is the perfect fit at left-back.(Image: Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images)

Former Liverpool defender John Arne Riise believes the Reds have to provide competition at left-back for Andy Robertson.

However, the Norwegian full-back believes Antonee Robinson is a good option for Arne Slot despite interest in Milos Kerkez.

Work is already underway to add reinforcements to the squad that cruised to Premier League success.



Liverpool are on the verge of completing a move for Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong, while the Reds have already expressed their admiration for Florian Wirtz and Bournemouth's Hungarian defender.

There has been a particular focus on the left-back region with calls for additions during the winter transfer window, namely from Jamie Carragher, with Liverpool in the thick of their pursuit of four major honours.

READ MORE:Liverpool signing makes transfer admission after exit confirmed - 'time to say goodbye'READ MORE:Liverpool target Milos Kerkez as Arne Slot makes 'extra weapons' transfer admission

Robertson, 31, has come under the microscope this term for a spate of uncharacteristic mistakes in stages of the campaign.

It has led to the pursuit of reinforcements with Kostas Tsimikas struggling to land a starting berth over the Scotland captain.

Liverpool are interested in Kerkez, with Fabrizio Romano claiming that the Reds are advancing in their attempts to sign the full-back.

However, Riise felt that Fulham's Robinson has the capabilities to push the current first-choice.

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"There’s quite a few players that people always ask about, who would we get?

We have the Fulham one Robinson, who I think would be the perfect fit so there’s quite a few names mentioned," the Norwegian exclusively told the ECHO.

"All I want them to do is put pressure on Robertson because I would like to get him back to his best, but when you play at Liverpool, every year you need to perform at your best and they’re in a good position now, players will want to come to the club and try to compete.

"Who they will get, I don’t know.

"I’m a big fan of Robinson, going forward, knowing the league very well, young, I think he would be a good fit for Liverpool.

"The thing is it doesn’t matter who you are, the manager is the key, if he can make you a player of his team, style of play, with Arne Slot it looks like he can do wonders with this team, whoever he gets, he will fit right in."

During the final season of Jurgen Klopp's reign, the German swapped Tsimikas and Robertson to allow the Scotland skipper an opportunity to rest after being nearly ever-present throughout the Reds' rise to prominence.

Riise noticed similarities between the conclusion of his time at Anfield and a slight decline in performances from Robertson, throughout the campaign, but come into his own during the successful Premier League run-in.

The 44-year-old believes Tsimikas isn't a strong enough option to push the Liverpool left-back.

He added: "He hasn’t played to his normal best that we’re used to seeing, he’s honest about it himself.

"He still has a couple more years ahead of him but he needs a bigger challenge on the left-back position, I don’t think Tsimikas is the one who is good enough, strong enough to challenge Robertson.

"We need a new left-back either to compete with Robertson or be the first-choice.

"I’m sure Robertson will show up for pre-season knowing that this season hasn’t been to his bvest, he will show the people that doubt him that he will be back to his best.

I’m quite sure we’ll need another left-back.

"When you play for the same club for so many years, you can get into the trap of being complacent and that could affect performances - I felt that in the last season with Rafa, I knew that I haven’t been up to the best, I wasn’t first in the gym, last out, giving 100 percent - I thought I did but looking back, I didn’t.

"It happens sometimes when you’re comfortable with your positon at the club, maybe that happened, it’s normal but now he has the chance to start fresh and come back.

"If he does that, he will be number one choice but he needs better competition than Tsimikas."

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