Sadio Moany
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Kop mate was ready to go off on one until I grabbed his hat-trick memento off ball boy reveals Robbo
ANDY ROBERTSON came to Liverpool team-mate Sadio Mane’s aid on Wednesday night to ensure the hat-trick hero took home the match ball.
Mane’s treble was key to the Reds’ impressive 5-0 win in Portugal where Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino were also on target.
Scottish star Robertson again impressed in an attacking, dynamic performance from left-back and after the match it was only thanks to his swift action Mane was able to take home his memento after a cheeky ball boy thought he’d picked up a prize.
Robertson said: “I had to go running after the ball boy for Mane’s ball at the end – he was nearly upset!
“Luckily I managed to get it. They were three class finishes from him.”
Robertson hailed the performance of his teammate following a display and scoreline that has made the second leg a formality. He said: “Mo and Bobby have stolen the headlines in the last couple of weeks.
“But Sadio is on my side of the pitch and is a workhorse. He took the limelight and got his three goals.”
Liverpool’s performance was an ideal blend of resolve and ruthlessness.
After taking control of possession in the early stages at a ground where Porto had lost just once all season, Jurgen Klopp’s men moved through the gears to canter in the second half. And Robertson – who has played 17 times for the Reds this season and become a fans’ favourite in the process. – said: “We just didn’t let them settle. “Their fans tried to make it a bit hostile at the start and we managed to quiet them quickly. “That’s the key to playing away. If the fans are on their own team’s back instead of ours we’ve done our job. “In the first five or 10 minutes we kept the ball and settled down and they let us have it. The first goal completely calmed everything down – and we never looked back. “They had a few half chances but other than that it was a perfect away performance. When the chances came we took them.” The emphatic result continued Liverpool’s remarkable record when playing in their third kit this season, with 24 goals scored in its six outings. And Robertson added: “Maybe teams think we’re too bright to come near us, maybe we’re doing something to their eyes!
“This kit has been quite lucky for us – long may it continue.”
Reds skipper Jordan Henderson reckons Liverpool are greater than the sum of their parts and that is why they have been able to absorb the loss of Philippe Coutinho.
Klopp’s side have not truly missed the Brazil attacker since his £142million January move to Barcelona.
And as the win against Porto showed his departure is being made easier by the individual and collective brilliance of 30-goal Salah, Firmino and Mane.
And the £75m arrival of Virgil van Dijk has contributed as the former Celt brings an air of confidence and coolness to an often nervy defence.
Henderson said: “It was a team performance. We started really well, very aggressive, very brave. We pressed up high to get the ball back. The quality we have going forward we were clinical as well.
“Virgil’s been brilliant since he come in but the whole back four was very good. The team defended from the front.”