Steven Gerrard may find his reputation on Merseyside may suffer if he continues to strip Liverpool for parts.
After completing the controversial signing of England international Jordan Henderson in the summer, 'Stevie G' has returned to his former stomping ground for another recruit. And Jurgen Klopp will have decisions to make after under-21s assistant coach Jonathan Robinson agree to join Gerrard's revolution at Al-Ettifaq.
After a nine-year spell on the books at Anfield, former first-team analyst and under-16 manager Robinson is heading for Dammam in Saudi Arabia. And the 31-year-old bade an emotional farewell to his employers of almost a decade on X (formerly Twitter).
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"Nine years of special people, memories that will last a lifetime and a club like no other," wrote Robinson on Monday. "Thank you to all the players, staff and everyone associated with the club for everything! YNWA."
Given the depth of playing talent that's been lured to the lucrative shores of the Pro League in recent months, it's only to be expected coaching staff would follow. But success is far from guaranteed in the Middle East given Gerrard's mixed results thus far during his maiden campaign coaching in Saudi.
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Largely responsible for helping to usher through Liverpool's masses of youth talent for the best part of a decade, Robinson can expect a step up in senior responsibilities in Saudi. That being said, Gerrard may also want his latest addition to help his team with the production of young talent in-house.
Robinson is the second backroom member Gerrard has poached from Anfield in recent months. The Reds icon also succeeded in snatching analyst Ray Shearwood from Liverpool in July.
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That's in addition to coaches Tommy Culshaw and Jordan Milsom, each of whom have experience working for the Premier League outfit. So it seems safe to say Gerrard has a type when it comes to the kind of credentials he's after when identifying potential colleagues.
Al-Ettifaq currently sit seventh in the Saudi Pro League after winning six games, drawing four and losing three under Gerrard. That includes a 2-1 win over Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr side in Gerrard's debut outing back in August.
Gerrard will hope Robinson can help him cultivate a more disciplined work environment in Dammam after winger Mohammed Al Kuwaykibi went AWOL for Saturday's bore draw away to Al-Fayha. Al Kuwaykibi missed the match because he said he was 'tired', leaving his manager in the lurch on short notice.
"He got in his car and went home without permission," said the club boss after Saturday's result. "He was analysed by the doctor, the doctor said he was good to train but he got in his car and said he was tired and went home. I am still looking for reasons and answers as to why he wasn't here to help us today."
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