CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Robertson shrugs off fixture concerns

Liverpool defender Andy Robertson has brushed aside concerns over the club’s fixture pile-up by insisting it matters little to the players.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have just begun a spell of 14 matches in 43 days up to and including their entry into the FA Cup in the first week of January.

That also includes two matches in 24 hours on different continents because of their involvement in the Carabao Cup and Club World Cup.

Should they progress through the League Cup quarter-final tie at Aston Villa in December they would then face a two-legged semi-final, meaning potentially another seven matches in a month.

However, the former Dundee United defender put it all into perspective by saying: “If you were to ask me would I swap my Champions League winner’s medal for less fixtures, absolutely not?

“When we look at it, it is sort of a compliment. The reason we have got all these fronts is because we have been successful.

“It is a credit to us and it’s because of our success and that is something we have to take the positives from.”

Robertson would be a major beneficiary of playing fewer matches as he is managing an ankle problem which has restricted his training.

He and his team-mates could help his cause with victory over Napoli in tonight’s Champions League game as that would see them qualify for the knockout stage with a match to spare.

That would allow Klopp to rest the likes of Robertson and Mohamed Salah, who has been carrying an ankle injury of his own since last month and, as a result, was an unused substitute against Crystal Palace at the weekend.

Taking a break is something the Scotland captain is not keen on, however, and admits he has to be told to take it easy.

“I get paid to play games and paid to train and I – and all the lads are the same – don’t want to miss any training sessions or any games,” he added.

Andy Robertson: Managing ankle problem.