Liverpool’s full-back pairing of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Robertson came under fire from Anfield hero John Aldridge for their dismal showing in the Brentford draw on Saturday.
Jurgen Klopp’s side were involved in a highly thrilling 3-3 affair on their travels away from home turf at the league’s new boys Brentford who proved to be an equal match for the Merseysiders.
The visitors to West London looked set for a narrow win after Curtis Jones had given them a late lead with an absolute screamer of a goal but Brentford’s substitute Yonae Wissa got the all-important goal to make the scoreline level.
Despite a positive performance on the attacking front, Liverpool struggled defensively and were unable to cope up with an inspired Brentford forward lineup who snatched a draw in the dying moments of the game.
In his column for The Sunday World, ex-Reds star striker Aldridge squared the blame for the defensive frailties on the Arnold-Robertson pairing who were picked out for leaving too much to the centre-back duo Matip and Van Dijk on keeping the opposition attackers in check.
“Liverpool were guilty of throwing away two points at Brentford last night, as a horrible defensive performance proved costly in a sensational 3-3 draw.
“All credit to Brentford as they gave Jurgen Klopp’s men trouble all night with their brand of direct and aggressive football, but Liverpool contributed to their own downfall with some terrible defensive slips.
“Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold were exposed as Brentford looked to get in behind them and it left Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip with far too much to do as they tried to hold off their powerful forward players.
“Then at the other end of the field, Liverpool failed to convert chances that could have finished the game off long before Brentford’s third goal, with Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota missing big chances when the game was there for the taking.
“In the end, Liverpool probably didn’t deserve to win the game as they were far too flaky at the back and in the final third, but this was a result that could come back to haunt them.
“On a day when Chelsea and Manchester United lost, this was three points they badly needed and they allowed then to slip away.”
