Like a sieve positioned left of rug (9)
I believe the answer is:
forgetful
'like' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?
'a sieve positioned left of rug' is the wordplay.
'left of rug' can be anagrammed to 'FORGETFUL'.
However, I am unsure how this is indicated.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for forgetful that I've seen before include "Apt not to remember" , "Distracted" , "Not remembering" , "struggling to learn lines?" , "Inclined not to remember" .)