Liverpool defender Andy Robertson says manager Jurgen Klopp told him a dearth of “options” was a factor in his first start since October as the Premier League leaders returned to the top of the table by beating Burnley at Anfield on Saturday.
Left-back Robertson played for 97 minutes of the 3-1 victory, following up two substitute appearances in his recovery from a shoulder injury sustained on international duty with Scotland which required an operation.
“The gaffer spoke to me on Friday and just said, ‘We don’t have many options,'” Robertson told Liverpoolfc.com, adding that he “loved” playing a part in the Reds’ return to winning ways six days after a 3-1 defeat at Arsenal which was their first league loss since September.
“He said to try to forget that I’ve been out for four months – which is easy for him to say, I suppose.
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“But that was my mentality when I woke up: to try to forget about it and hope it clicks back into gear.
“I thought it did. I had rhythm, I was up and down as I normally would be, I tried to help Lucho [Luis Diaz] on the overlap and get involved in the game.”
Liverpool vs Burnley: Clarets “really good”
Diogo Jota sent Liverpool on their way with the 31st-minute opener but Dara O’Shea drew the relegation-threatened Clarets level shortly before half-time.
Diaz and Darwin Nunez scored after the break but Robertson was impressed by Burnley, who are seven points behind fourth-bottom Luton Town with a 13-goal inferiority on the Hatters.
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“I don’t know how they’re in the position they are,” said Robertson, calling the visitors “really good” and describing the challenge they posed as “really difficult”.
“They played really good football and they’ve got a lot of exciting young players. It was never an easy afternoon – we knew that from the first whistle. But this team, more often than not, finds a way – and, luckily, we managed that today.
“Four months out is a long time but the lads have done unbelievably well. Now I need to step up to their level and today was a good start.”
Liverpool are next in action when they visit 14th-placed Brentford on Saturday (12:30 GMT).
