Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Nobody fancies facing Liverpool in Champions League says Robertson
DEFENDER Andrew Robertson believes Liverpool’s reputation in the Champions League is so fearsome no one will want to face them in the knockout stages.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have reached a European final in three of the four seasons he has been at the club, starting with the Europa League in 2016 and then back-to-back appearances in the elite competition culminating with a sixth European Cup in June.
Having booked a last-16 spot as group winners after a 2-0 win over RB Salzburg in Austria, the club head into the new year eyeing a third successive Champions League final.
And Robertson believes none of their opponents will want to be pitted against them in Monday’s draw in Nyon.
“We respect every opponent we play but we know the way we have done things in the last two years and nobody wants to play against us and that is clear – but it is up to us to keep proving that,” said the former Dundee United defender.
“We cannot rely on that and we need to keep proving why people don’t want to play against us but, so far, we have done that.”
Liverpool have made a habit of making life tough on themselves in the group stage, having taken qualification to the final game for the last three years, but coming alive in the knockout phase.
It is that form which makes them such unenviable opposition, having beaten the likes of Bayern Munich, Roma, Manchester City and – most famously Barcelona in May over the last two seasons.
“That is the atmosphere we have created in the last two years, a team which has been to the final twice and has obviously lost one and won one and we are respected in this tournament,” Robertson added.