Andy Robertson is a welcome exception to the Liverpool injury crisis that has overshadowed preparations for their Wembley final.
While several team-mates are crocked, the influential defender has recently returned from a long absence with a dislocated shoulder.
Jurgen Klopp will be relieved with today’s Carabao Cup final against Chelsea, the first of four opportunities to celebrate his farewell season at Anfield with silverware.
‘I’ve timed it right,’ admits Robertson, who was injured playing for Scotland against Spain in October. ‘It was my first operation in football and hopefully my last. I want to make up for lost time.
Andy Robertson is back fit and firing for Liverpool ahead of this weekend’s Carabao Cup final
The full back recently returned from a long absence after suffering a dislocated shoulder
‘Liverpool’s injury crisis is there to be seen but I’m fortunate to be back. I don’t know any footballer who is a good patient but I had to respect the injury as well as the experts doing my rehab. I never went too far ahead of myself. I just tried to improve from one Monday to the next.’
Robertson, an effervescent character who lifts the dressing room, has been eased back gently with three substitute appearances and a couple of starts since his return at the end of January.
It’s just as well with Jota, Alexander-Arnold, Alisson, Joel Matip, Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai, Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic all ruled out. Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez are also doubts after missing the midweek win against Luton with muscular issues.
Liverpool’s team has changed dramatically since defeating Chelsea in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup finals in 2022, on each occasion the games going to penalties after goalless draws.
Even so, they are top of the Premier League and competing on four fronts. How Chelsea – whose transition has been even more radical and so far less successful -would love to swap places.
‘I don’t think anyone here is surprised by how we’ve done,’ says Robertson. ‘We believed the new signings together with the existing players had the quality and we’ve been on a roll.
Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez are both doubts after missing out on the win against Luton
Alexis Mac Allister has settled into life at Anfield, with Robertson hailing him as ‘different class’
‘It’s different at Chelsea because they have had a lot of turnover. We lost a few and replaced them with four or five. Their change has been bigger and it’s difficult piecing it together.
‘Our new lads have done so well, especially Macca (Alexis Mac Allister) and Wata (Wataru Endo) in the last few weeks. They have been a different class.’
The Klopp factor is also key, following his shock announcement that he is to leave Liverpool. Robertson admits there is a balance between wanting to deliver for the manager but trying to keep sentiment away until the end of the season.
‘The fans can be emotional but we have to park it to a certain extent,’ he says. ‘Of course we want to give him a big send-off, he is the manager who taken this club back to where it belongs. It gives us extra motivation but we can’t get caught up in it, which we’ve done really well so far.
‘The last game will be emotional for everyone but right now we have a job to do as players.’
The Carabao Cup isn’t as glamorous as the Premier League or even the FA Cup and Europe but today’s game represents a first chance to win a trophy with Liverpool for the more recent signings Mac Allister, Endo, Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch, Szoboszlai and Nunez.
Jurgen Klopp will look to win at least one more trophy before he steps away from the hot seat
Another newbie in Klopp’s present XI is academy youngster Conor Bradley who has performed exceptionally well as Alexander-Arnold’s stand-in at right-back. Robertson is happy to give the 20-year-old what guidance he can.
‘Conor has shown he can do it at the highest level. There is a lot of hype around him and now it’s a case of performing every single week,’ he says.
‘I tell him before every game and during training that it’s all good being the new kid on the block but it comes with expectation.
‘He has dealt with it unbelievably well so far but he has to keep going. I’m trying to drill home that what makes you really good is consistency, because he’s got the skill and athleticism.
‘He is a hard worker, he listens to all the other lads and he takes everything in his stride.
‘When the youngsters (Bobby Clark, Jayden Danns and James McConnell) came on against Luton, they looked excited. It reminded me of when I came on for my debut. You have no fear.’
Academy youngster Conor Bradley has impressed since being drafted into the first-team
The Carabao final two years was notable for a marathon penalty shootout, which Liverpool won 11-10. Robertson converted the eighth and says: ‘It’s a very long walk from the halfway line and when the ball hits the back of the neck, it’s relief.
‘It’s the same for any player, even Mo and he’s probably taken more than 50 penalties.
‘We’ve practised penalties and Chelsea will have as well. You have to find a routine that works for you but hopefully they won’t be needed.
‘It doesn’t matter if Sunday is your first final, or sixth, or seventh, you don’t get bored of hearing the final whistle, lifting the trophy and celebrating with the people who have worked hard to get there with you.
‘Some of the lads will remember the first one as special but lads like myself, who have won trophies before, want to add more to their collection.
‘Our supporters will travel in unbelievable numbers and seeing the red scarves and flags makes us want to send them back home happy. Injuries or no injuries, the fans expect us to win.’
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