When Andy Robertson joined Liverpool last summer, it was understandable that there may have been some concern among Kopites having needed to use James Milner at left-back for the campaign prior. The young Scotsman was attracting interest from Newcastle United, Burnley, Watford and West Ham United, whilst he had just been part of a Hull City side relegated to the Championship.
“Andy came to Hull at a young age and he has done fantastic to play in the Premier League so young,” said former Tigers teammate and current Aston Villa defender Ahmed Elmohamady to The Sportsman. “It was a good experience for him to play against the best players in the league, which is helping him a lot now.”
Initially, the then 22-year-old had to bide his time before he established himself as Liverpool’s first-choice in the role, with Moreno improving in the opening months of the campaign. “Moreno was getting a lot of stick off the fans and obviously he didn’t bring the performances that the fans would like to see,” former LFC defender Jack Robinson now at Queens Park Rangers told The Sportsman.
Robinson was the youngest player at the time to have played in a first team match for the club, as he made his debut at 16 years and 250 days old in Rafael Benitez’s final match in charge. He is more than aware of the demands of young full-backs at the historic side.
“I think Andy Robertson has pushed him coming in and that’s raised his game. That’s what it does, you need competition in places.”
Robertson’s story transcends much more than one season, as he was discarded by Celtic for being too small in his teens and then found himself at Scottish League Two club Queen’s Park. He took to social media at the age of 18 to complain: “Life at this age is rubbish with no money. Need a job.”
He will now start a Champions League final just six years later. Jurgen Klopp allowed Robertson to get a feel for Liverpool when he first arrived and gave him time to learn the specific change in style before utilising him regularly.
The injury to Moreno against Spartak Moscow in December gave Robertson the chance for a run of fixtures. He experienced his debut Merseyside derby before he was part of a defence that kept consecutive clean sheets in the league for the first time since August.
Robertson has grown in stature with every appearance, as he illustrated his tough tackling ability and composure on the ball. His relationship with Sadio Mane has continued to evolve on the pitch, whilst he has looked confident and assured in front of the press.
“He is great lad, a very funny lad,” adds Elmohamady. “All the Scottish have great banter. He is good off the pitch and hopefully he can keep improving.”
His vast rise under Klopp has been emblematic in their battles with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and in his duals with former Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling in particular. The 4-3 victory over the Champions in the league saw Robertson heralded for his man-marking job on Sterling and perhaps even prompted Guardiola’s decision not to use the attacker in the subsequent first leg in the Champions League.
“Robertson has done fantastic, he has got a lovely left foot,” adds Robinson. “He can be a solid left-back for Liverpool for years to come.
“I think him, and Moreno are pretty similar. Moreno is a little more attacking, but I think defensively Andy looks a little more suited to that left-back slot than Moreno.”
Elmohamady agrees: “Every time I see him play he is improving. I think he can be the Liverpool left-back for a long time.”
