Andy Robertson: Liverpool believe they can stay top after coming through nightmare run of fixtures unscathed
It was billed as a nightmare schedule for Liverpool.
Back-to-back home league games against their greatest rivals, with a must-win Champions League tie in between.
Having won them all, Andy Robertson says Jurgen Klopp’s side have made the biggest statement yet of their title credentials.
Arsenal and Manchester City are still to come over the next three weeks, but it has been the perfect December so far.
“It has been a huge few weeks. People maybe looked at the fixtures and thought, ‘Everton, it’s a derby, always tough, Bournemouth, always tough, Napoli was a must-win and Man Utd speaks for itself’, and we have come out unscathed,” said Robertson.
“We are in December, we know how tough this period is but we are top of the league. We have just got to keep this period going.
“We know how good Man City are, we have a bit of a gap that has opened up now (to third), the two of us close to each other but we believe we can stay top but there is a long way to go and we still have to play big games, starting on Friday night and we hopefully move on from there.
“We can’t just rest on that and say, four games we have played well and take our eye off the ball. We need to stay focused 100 per cent and look forward to the challenge at Wolves who have done well this season so we prepare, we rest and get ready for another big one.”
Robertson’s contribution was singled-out by Jose Mourinho, who suggested the Scot’s ‘incredible’ sprints exposed the different qualities of both teams.
“It is just part and parcel of my game, I will keep on going until the end,” said Robertson.
“I got a bit of space, particularly second half and the gaffer is always banging on to me and Trent, more so this season, that we have to be more involved and I was just tried to do that. Special mention goes to Clyney today, being out for so long and my God, he done brilliant. He has had his struggles with injury but he put in a first-class performance and that just sums up our squad at the minute.”
For all Mourinho’s laments about squad investment and focus on Liverpool’s spending on Virgil Van Dijk and Alisson Becker, Robertson is an example of the shrewd recruitment since Klopp’s arrival.
He cost just £8 million after Hull City’s relegation. Both Gini Wijnaldum (Newcastle) and Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke) made their Anfield move having gone down with their respective clubs.
“You can use it to your advantage,” said Robertson.
“You might go under the radar a wee bit and there might not be as big a deal made about your signing but you can use that to your advantage because it gets time to get your feet under the table.
“Shaq has hit the ground running, quicker than I did, so credit to him, he has learned the way to play and he has been fantastic all season and a real threat for us and his stats this season are very good, so long may that continue.”
Eight of Liverpool’s goal this season have come from substitutes – Shaqiri’s two against United the latest - demonstrating the strength in depth.
“You look at the bench and there is probably a few people disappointed not to start, rightly so and we have all got positions to fight for and that is the beauty of having a good squad,” said Robertson.
“Shaq comes on and shows everyone what he can do and scores the two goals and he will take the headlines but the other subs that came on, Hendo came on and shored up the midfield, won every tackle, I think, and never lost a header against Fellaini, which is always tough. These guys were disappointed not to play before kick off but they come on and make such a difference for us. It was a real all-round performance.”
