BREAKING THE CODY
Thompson: Robbo won’t have to think twice about getting tore into Reds pals Virgil & Gakpo
ANDY ROBERTSON wouldn’t think twice about clattering Virgil van dijk or Cody Gakpo if it helps scotland get a result against the dutch.
Certainly, former Liverpool and England star Phil Thompson never did when he came up against his clubmates in the international arena.
The Liverpool trio of Robertson, van Dijk and Gakpo clash when the Netherlands and the Scots meet in a so-called friendly in the Johan Cruyff Arena tomorrow night.
And Thompson is expecting fireworks – with no quarter given.
The former Anfield star said: “Andy is a top pro and he will do whatever it takes to help his team to win the game.
“If it means clattering Cody or Virgil then he will do that. Cody will be looking to feature as well.
“Andy will probably be in more direct opposition to Cody than Virgil, although the big man loves to come up for set-plays.
“Virgil and Cody will know what is coming. I would expect that as a team-mate as well, knowing the way that Andy approaches every game.
“Andy has shown in his Liverpool career he is prepared to go head-to-head and face-toface with some of the best.
“He has clattered the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez and put them on their backsides and his Liverpool mates will be no different when it comes to helping Scotland to get a result.
“Andy has shown he doesn’t care for reputations and has taken some of the best attackers in the game to task and left them on the back foot.”
Thompson knows from experience what it can be like playing against his Liverpool mates having to face players such as Kenny Dalglish and Graeme Souness when Scotland met England.
He said: “It’s always been the case. I remember back in the day when I was captain of England.
“And we had Phil Neal, Terry McDermott and Ray Kennedy all in the one side and possibly playing against Scotland and Alan Hansen, Graeme Souness and Kenny Dalglish.
“We knew when we played them there was no quarter given or asked in those games.
“We had a chat before the game but once we crossed the line that was it.
“We were on different sides and you wanted to win.
“You didn’t get much bigger than England v Scotland.
“That was big stakes and I was directly up against Kenny – and I don’t think either of us ever shirked a tackle or a challenge.
“Andy, Virgil and Cody will be the same for those 90-odd minutes and then after the
game they will be back to being friends and team-mates.”
Robertson and van Dijk will lead their respective teams out in Amsterdam.
But after those final handshakes, Thompson knows their Anfield friendships will go out the window for 90-odd minutes.
And he said: “It’s great to see top players at club level go head-to-head for their countries.
“Virgil’s taken to the captaincy extremely well at Liverpool and has had the armband at Holland for quite a while.
“It’s great to have the Scotland and Dutch captains playing for Liverpool.
“It will be good to see them playing against each other and knowing them both they will both be wanting the win.”
Robertson is a key figure for Scotland and he has now become just as vital for the Reds, insists Thompson.
He said: “Andy has grown in stature over the years. He has played consistently at the highest level in the Champions League, Europa League and the Premier League.
“He’s picked up that experience by playing in these top games and also by winning some of these trophies.
“Andy was Scotland captain before Steve Clarke came in but you can see why the manager’s kept him in place and deemed him worthy of leading the country. “Andy’s time as captain has probably coincided with the Scotland team having their best spell for a number of years.
“But I don’t think that it is a coincidence.”
Former Celtic star van Dijk is also another stalwart for Jurgen Klopp as the manager chases farewell European and Premier League trophies to go with their League Cup.
Thompson said: “Virgil has been fantastic for Liverpool. He is probably the best centre-back in Europe at this moment in time.
“I think he has also kicked on since he has been given the captaincy at Liverpool.
“Some people can’t cope with the pressures but Virgil has lifted his level up to the next level.”
Thompson believes that the Dutch friendly will see a lot of Liverpool fans tuning in to see some of their heroes on international duty.
And the Reds legend added: “It is a good game. Holland have struggled but they seem to be making great strides forward like Scotland under Steve Clarke.
“It will certainly be interesting from a Liverpool perspective.”
I was directly up against Kenny and I don’t think that either of us ever shirked a tackle or challenge
PHIL THOMPSON