LIVING THE DREAM
Robertson revels in his role as fans’ idol at Liverpool
ASPION Kop cult hero is born. Andrew Robertson, take a bow. There will be many more to follow, no doubt.
That the Scot has won himself most-favoured status at Anfield is surely no longer a subject up for debate.
Having given what former Liverpool great Steve Nicol admiringly describes as an ‘old school’ masterclass in full-back play on Sunday afternoon, his position has never seemed more secure. Or more full of promise.
Those ‘goosebumps’ Robertson confessed to feeling when thousands of fans started singing his name late in that thunderous victory over Manchester City? Likely to be something of a recurring condition.
Because it will be a long time before supporters tire of talking about a sequence instantly dubbed ‘The Chase’, a 70-yard example of harrying and hassling that embodied Jurgen Klopp’s devotion to unsettling Pep Guardiola’s previously invincible City.
Nor are they likely to forget even a second of possibly the most delicious individual sub-plot in a 4-3 home win — Robertson completely cowing £50million ex-Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling. Oh, the punters enjoyed that, all right.
For Nicol, a man proud to wear the red of Liverpool and dark blue of Scotland, watching the 23-year-old from afar was a sheer joy.
The former Anfield great, now an ESPN pundit based in the States, told Sportsmail: ‘That was proper old school defending — that’s the best thing about Robertson’s performance.
‘It was what I would consider old-fashioned full-back play, if you like. It’s increasingly rare to see full-backs able to do that job.
‘Everyone wants their fullbacks to play like wingers and then it’s a bonus if they can defend.
‘Robertson has shown that, yes, he’s good going forward. But the way he defended was great. The fans took to him because of it— and especially because he kept Sterling out of the game.
‘That was brilliant. Sterling got a really hot reception from the fans off the field — and then he got an even tougher time from Robertson on the field.
‘Watching him chase City all over the park, it really lifted the team. He’s really taken a big step for Liverpool. And, of course, Scotland will benefit from it, too.’ Every Scottish football fan could have told the good people of Merseyside, of course, exactly what they were getting in Robertson. We knew him when and all that. None us are surprised to see Liverpool fans falling head over heels for a player who, just four-anda-half years ago, was working days in the Hampden Park ticket office — and playing for the only amateur team in the SPFL. That’s a story good enough on its own to win over most in a support where a dash of romance has always been valued highly. Throw in the fact that, before he was even linked with the Reds, he had named Steven Gerrard as his footballing idol. That’s worth something. And then there’s the fact that he’s had to work, wait and work some more to get his break — without any of the whining so common among players frozen out of the first team.
He’s been respectful and diligent, biding his time and making the most of his return to the side in early December. Fans admire that.
To top it all, though, is the sheer ability, relentlessness, desire and footballing brain of a player already earning high praise from some pretty nifty predecessors.
John Arne Riise, perhaps the last truly great left-back at a club where Alan Kennedy used to rampage up and down the flank, was among those to single Robertson out for the ‘energy’ he showed in a ‘brilliant’ performance.
For the player himself, the rise from Queen’s Park to Dundee United, Hull and then Anfield in such a short space of time is a source of endless wonder. Especially when it comes to moments such as Sunday’s musical tribute from the diehards who pay his wages.
‘Just after we scored the fourth, I’d won a couple of tackles and then heard the fans singing my name,’ he said. ‘That’s nice, especially when it’s the Kop. It gives you goosebumps. I can’t thank them enough for the support they’ve shown me from day one. When people come to Anfield, you know what the atmosphere is going to be like. But that was the best I’ve played in.’
Part of that was down to Robertson’s own efforts. With and without the ball.
Some players do more than just fill their position to a degree of excellence. They get fans on their feet, lift the mood, deliver an dose of emotional oomph when required.
As a case in point, watch The Chase. Robertson’s singlehanded and single-minded pursuit of five individual City players — goalkeeper included — that forced the visitors from halfway on ‘his’ side of the park all the way to their own left-back position.
If you really want to enjoy it, click on the Swedish TV version of this instantly-famous sequence; for whatever reason, the commentary works perfectly.
For Robertson, his recent elevation to the first team — and the way he’s grabbed his chance — is particularly sweet because of how uncertain his prospects seemed until quite recently.
Kept out of the starting XI by Alberto Moreno, he was publicly challenged by Klopp to raise his game. Improvement was needed, said the gaffer, before he could challenge for a place.
Player and manager walked off the pitch side by side on Sunday, Robertson taking in the atmosphere and looking very much like a man living the dream.
Naturally, in a city noted for its biting sense of humour, his performance instantly spawned a whole slew of jokes.
Yep, Robertson was last seen chasing the Man City team bus down the M62. Has he completed his complete circuit of the British Isles yet? It’s like he’s playing FIFA with the stamina set at 99. Then again, maybe he’s just running away from the tax man — who wants a word about that undeclared Sterling in his back pocket.
In short order, then, Robertson has hounded and harassed a player who so shamelessly worked his ticket out of Anfield, run roughshod over a City team considered too good to be ruffled by anyone — and provided punters with a few new one-liners.
A cult hero in the making, if ever there was.