Players sort out verbals themselves SPEAKEASY
Robertson: Reds title tilt is down to some brutal home truths
ANDY ROBERTSON has revealed that honesty is the policy underpinning Liverpool’s title tilt.
The pacy defender – who had praised heaped upon him by former Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho last week – believes Jurgen Klopp’s men are true havea-go heroes.
Scotland’s skipper says there is a pact inside the dressing-room to take flak from a team-mate without it escalating into an on-field row.
And that attitude prevents distractions, cutting out mistakes and boosting the kind of confidence witnessed during the Reds’ seventh straight Premier League win at Molineux on Friday night which leaves them top at Christmas.
To the naked eye, those verbals went unseen. But Robertson claims there was a reason for that.
Arguments
He said: “There were a couple of arguments out there today. A couple of things that needed to be said – and they were.
“We all have the attitude that if someone says something to you, you have to take it on the chin.
“If you don’t agree with it, you deal with it at full-time or half-time and speak to one another.
“When you are out on the pitch and it’s 100 miles an hour you don’t have time to discuss why something was said to you.
“We have spoken together about this as a team. We do discuss things. We have said that it’s having that honesty between us which is important.
“Whether it’s the youngest player – someone like Trent Alexander-arnold – who tells you to do something and he believes it’s right then you do it. You can go back and ask Trent for an explanation later – if you haven’t ag agreed eed w with t it, t, o obviously. v ous y. W When e people are arguing on the pitch, pitch it Henderson, Henderson who clocked up 300 can have a negative effect and you appearances for the club against can get distracted. Wolves – t hat’s a great
“That’s something the lads have achievement. done really well since the start of the season. It shows the respect between us.
“There are a lot of leaders out there now. Virgil Van Dijk is captain of his country. We have a fantastic a tas captain in Jordan
Leaders
“We’ve got James Milner as well, who is a fantastic professional. There are plenty of leaders on the park – I’m including Dejan Lovren in that, as well. And the more leaders we have got out there, the better, as far as I’m concerned.”
Robertson also paid tribute to Van Dijk, who netted his first Premier League goal for the Reds with a lovely cushioned sidefoot volley that ended Wolves’ dogged resistance.
He added: “I’m getting bored talking about how good he is... I’m only joking.
“We knew when we saw Adama Traore playing up front that he’s got great pace. His pace and directness are a big threat – and big Virgil did so well with him.
“I’m sure he will be disappointed he has not scored more goals but it was a clean sheet and his first Premier League goal. It was pretty much a perfect day for him.
“His impact on the club has been good. He’s been brilliant. I’ve worked alongside him for the majority of time on the left-hand side of defence.
“He’s just a great lad to have alongside you.”