17 Jun 2022 18:59:15
Edd001 how much longer do you think robertson (28) and van dijk (31)can play at this level for the club? Robertson has a more taxing role and van dijk is on the other side of 30 now. Do you see them both performing at this level for more than 2 years?

{Ed001's Note - 2 easily, should still have 3 or 4 more years left.}

17 Jun 2022 19:59:03
I'm with Ed. I think 4 for Robbo and 6 for Virgil.

If Thiago Silva can do it at 37 so can Virgil. Robbo's role in our system is intense though and unless he is a freak of nature, he'll start to drop off in his 30's. Or at least need his game time managed.

17 Jun 2022 22:36:53
Think it's easy for VVD to play another 5 yrs then Robbo.

Mk mate can't see Thiago silva surviving in our system at that age. He will be like fish out of water lol.

17 Jun 2022 23:00:09
Players are playing longer than ever, also to a higher standard than ever before. I wouldn't start worrying about it pre-emptively until they're about 34.

17 Jun 2022 20:03:03
Èd001 will robbo go down as Liverpools greatest left back for you if he gives another few years at this level of performance? I love the bones of him. Inspiration and a brilliant lad.

{Ed001's Note - probably. It is the position in a Liverpool greats XI that is weakest I would say, which certainly helps his chances.}

18 Jun 2022 01:45:24
How good was Nicol Ed? Didn't he win player of the year from that position, and was quite prolific to boot?

{Ed001's Note - Nicol was incredible but he was better on the right, he usually gets shoehorned on the left because the options are not so good. But in reality he was one of the best right-backs of all time, it just gets forgotten because he was so good everywhere he played. Which is so different to Lawrenson, who played all over the pitch brilliantly for us but people only remember him as a centre-back alongside Hansen. Even though he spent more time playing other positions for us than he did there. Not sure why that is.}

18 Jun 2022 07:30:31
Robbo can definitely play at his current level for another couple of years. VVD I think is on such another level that even if he decline in the next couple of years he will still be our best defender by some distance for a few years after that. I can see him becoming like Kompany was for City and playing at the highest level until he is 35-36.

18 Jun 2022 08:18:24
Lawrenson was a better left back than Robertson; even though he wasn't a left back. He was also a very good midfielder. He was superb and one of my favourite players of all time.

18 Jun 2022 09:52:35
Totally agree about Lawrenson. Absolutely brilliant player, one of the best to ever play for our club.
Btw, it’s probably just me, but does anyone else think Joe missed a trick not putting Lawro in the Souness role for season 84/ 85?

18 Jun 2022 11:35:38
Bloody hell! I thought we only wrote people off at 30. How many years does a 28 year old have left in the tank at full back? Geeeeeez!

18 Jun 2022 12:15:04
Topofthekops, Don’t worry cos soon, they’ll start writing players off at 25 at the rate this is going.

18 Jun 2022 12:45:18
Interesting call, Tricky.
We missed Souness massively and a very young Jan Molby wasn't ready at the start of the season.
I actually enjoyed the start of that season because I was going to Anfield not knowing that we were going to win!

18 Jun 2022 16:16:37
Cheers Rigsby. Just my opinion - with the benefit of hindsight as well, obviously. And more an appreciation of Lawro than a dig at Joe or any of the lads who played in centre midfield that season.
I still say that as good as the Bitters were in 84/ 85, if Souness stays and has a full season in midfield with John Wark, we win the league that year by a country mile.
If’s and buts tho.