When Jurgen Klopp was laying out his vision of heavy-metal football at Liverpool, Andy Robertson and Mo Salah became key members of the band.
Robertson and Salah arrived at Anfield within only a few weeks of each other in the summer of 2017 and both went on to thrive in Klopp’s high-octane system.
With their boundless energy and blistering pace, both players were almost tailor-made to set the tone for Klopp’s style of play.
Nine years later, and having won every major honour in the game at club level, this summer could well see them both bid an emotional farewell to Liverpool.
It was confirmed earlier this week that Salah will definitely leave the club in the summer. With Robertson’s contract set to expire at the end of the season, he could yet follow.
The Scotland captain opened up yesterday and paid a heartfelt tribute to a player who has not only been a brilliant team-mate and an all-time great in the Premier League, but also a close personal friend off the pitch.
Andy Robertson and Mo Salah both joined Liverpool under then manager Jurgen Klopp in 2017
Especially in those early days in 2017, when Robertson had signed from Hull City and struggled to break into the team initially, it was Salah who helped hammer home the belief that he belonged at that level.
‘Mo and I have been close since day one, we signed in the same window in the same summer,’ said Robertson, who will lead Scotland out against Japan at Hampden today. ‘He helped me right from when I first came in.
‘I signed from Hull and maybe didn’t have as much belief in myself as I should have. I saw myself in the early days as a Hull player playing against these lads instead of being a Liverpool player.
‘There were a few people who had a big impact on me in that early stage — James Milner, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana — good people around me.
‘They gave me the belief in what I could go on to achieve and Mo was a big part of that.
‘With Mo, every minute of every day is dedicated to football and that’s why he’s in peak condition. I’m not sure I’ve got a six-pack like him, although I’ve tried!
‘He is in unbelievable condition, very rarely injured and looks after himself. That mentality, that’s what you need to be at elite level.
‘We grew together. He became one of the best players in the world and it was great to sit back and watch him.
‘His goals bailed us out of a hole so many times, he’s been fantastic for the club and I don’t think anyone will argue with that.
‘Our families sit next to each other at Anfield and the kids have grown up together. We have been through a lot together, highs and lows, good times and bad times.
‘To be able to call him a team-mate but also a friend — and he’s been a close friend of mine — it’s an absolute privilege.
‘He’s been amazing for the club and amazing for the changing room. He’s decided to move on and it will be a big farewell, that’s for sure.’
On the prospect of ever playing against each other, Robertson laughed: ‘We wanted a game together, we wanted Scotland to play Egypt.
‘We always joked if I was at left-back and he was on the wing we’d be up against each other.
‘We both have the same passion playing for our countries, we’ve had a lot of conversations about playing for our national teams.’
Robertson will move on to 91 caps this afternoon when Scotland begin their World Cup preparations against the Japanese at Hampden.
That will move him level with Jim Leighton in second place on the all-time caps list, with only Kenny Dalglish ahead of him on 102.
Steve Clarke’s side will then face Ivory Coast at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium on Tuesday night as they look to build momentum towards their first World Cup finals in 28 years in the summer.
The name of Dalglish came up yesterday not only in terms of trying to break the caps record, but because Robertson believes that is the regard in which Salah should be held at Anfield.
Robertson credits his Anfield team-mate for giving him the belief to succeed at the club
‘I’ve probably ran out of words for Mo,’ continued the Scotland skipper. ‘He’s a fantastic player and it’s unbelievable what he’s done for our club.
‘Last season (when Liverpool won the league), he carried us on his back at times on his own. The numbers he produced were ridiculous.
‘All good things have to come to an end and Mo has decided it will be this summer. I back him and support him on that and I don’t think there’s any doubt how much of a legend he is at Liverpool.
‘He’s in the conversation as one of the best to ever play for the club. He’s a legend.
‘He’s one of the greatest but Kenny probably pips him. I tell him that most days. Kenny is the greatest player of all-time for Liverpool and Scotland.
‘Behind that, you have three or four in the conversation and Mo Salah is in there with Steven Gerrard, Ian Rush and people like that.
‘In terms of caps, it’s been a long slog to catch Jim but hopefully I can do that and then there’s only one more to catch.
‘My motivation is there anyway (to keep playing for Scotland). It’s clear how much I love playing for my country and what it means to me.
‘As long as I think I can contribute, I’ll keep playing. I think I’ve got a few good years left in me.’
Having been a mainstay for the best part of a decade, Robertson has found his game time at Liverpool more limited this season.
Now 32 years old and with his contract set to expire at the end of June, he could well be in the same boat as Salah very soon in terms of bidding an emotional farewell.
Robertson admitted that joining up with the Scotland squad throughout the season, especially back in the quickfire World Cup qualifiers a few months ago, has helped keep his spirits up.
‘Scotland duty has kept me going at times this season, I can safely say that,’ he said. ‘I obviously haven’t played as much with Liverpool as I have in previous years.
‘Especially at the start when we had games in September, October, November in the qualifiers, it was really important for me.
‘We were playing in such big games. And for the likes of myself and John McGinn at our age, it might have been realistically our last chance to qualify for a World Cup.
‘So it gave me something to focus on and be a part of. Everything went in our favour and it’s been super-important for me.’
