Jermaine Pennant believes Liverpool should replace Andy Robertson with Joao Cancelo, thinking now is the optimum time to strike in order to beat Manchester City to the title.
The Reds are the only side to beat Manchester City to the Premier League title in the last six seasons, storming to success in 2020. The other five years were dominated by Pep Guardiola’s men, pushed twice to the final day by Liverpool and winning a treble last season.
But despite their strength and determination to fight until the last minute, Pennant sees a weakness in their current squad that he thinks his former club Liverpool can exploit.
The first step to doing that, he feels, is replacing stalwart Robertson with a man who left the Etihad Stadium this year, Joao Cancelo.
Acknowledging his bizarre call but explaining why he feels that way, the ex-winger told Lucky Block: “The only weakness I can see [in Liverpool’s team], and people may think I’m mad for saying this, is Andy Robertson. I’d like to see Liverpool move for a better left-back in January.
“He’s been a great servant for Liverpool, but I think he’s moving to the end of his career now. I think another attacking left-back will be needed.
“Left-backs aren’t my forte, to be honest. I would have been happy with Joao Cancelo as he can play on the right or left. I was disappointed Liverpool didn’t move for him, but I’m sure their recruitment team have other irons in the fire.
“They are. There used to be loads of them with the likes of Ashley Cole and Leighton Baines, but that’s not the case anymore.”
Robertson joined Liverpool in 2017 from Hull City in a deal rising to £10m, has since gone on to make 274 appearances for club and is the leading defender for Premier League assists of all-time. The Scotland captain has also won every major trophy available at club level in his time at Anfield.
Cancelo completed the same achievement at City, winning trophy after trophy, though the 29-year-old’s time at the Reds’ rivals came to an end after a falling out with his manager. He now plays for Barcelona after making a summer switch.
The Portuguese international was one of a number of players to depart the reigning champions, so analysing this factor with their current injury and suspensions list, Pennant reckons Liverpool must be ready to take advantage if they are to come out on top.
“Manchester City have set such a high bar, that any dip below it is noticed,” he continued. “I think a lot of people are hoping that Liverpool push City all the way.
“City have lost big players like [Ilkay] Gundogan, [Riyad] Mahrez, and [Aymeric] Laporte, and they can’t be a stronger side after that.
“Any team would struggle without so many of their stars. City are strong, of course, but with the sales they’ve made and the absences of De Bruyne and Rodri, now would be the time to play City. Not that there’s ever a good time!”
