Robertson: No one would want to play us in the knockout stages

[TLW]

Andy Robertson has confidently claimed that no team would want to play Liverpool in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

No team has a better record in the competition over the last two years than the Reds as they finished runner/up to Real Madrid in 2017/8 and then going one better last season against Tottenham.

It is that statistical fact that Robertson knows will play on the mind of their opponents when we reach the crunch games of the competition.

Sky Sports reported the left-back as saying:

“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.

“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.

“ We will wait for the draw and see who we get in the last 16. 

“We know it will be tough regardless but we look forward to the challenge as we want to go far in this tournament again."

 

Along with the overall quality of the Liverpool side, it is also the level of respect which Robertson says has been well earned across Europe.

“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.

“ Maybe the first season when we went to the final, I don't think we were really respected until maybe after the quarter-final when we went to Porto and washed them away.

“ We did not get the respect we deserved. 

“Now, we know we are respected in Europe.

 

"No one will want us but everyone who gets into the last 16 will fancy themselves."

But Robertson says that they are no longer the underdogs and have a big target on their back.

“We know that now, we are the champions and everyone wants to beat us.

“ That is what we have to deal with and hopefully we can deal with it well. 

“But there are about 40 games between now and the last 16 (in February) - so we will worry about that when the time comes."

Robertson also paid tribute to midfielder Naby Keita who has been a star performer of late.

“Our squad is full of quality and unfortunately for Naby this season, he has picked up an injury which has kept him out a bit and he came back and the midfield has done so well.

“But he has had an opportunity in the last two games and he has been excellent. He has added to our options and that is what we need to create.

“Naby replicates what this team is about. He was the man of the match on Saturday and again (against Salzburg) he was excellent.

 

"Long may that continue."


 

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[Jimmy Hills Chin]

Couldn’t understand anything he said, needs to speak slower.