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Klopp Hails Robertson’s Leadership

The young full-back played his first match as captain for Scotland.

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Scotland v Belgium - International Friendly Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

Andy Robertson’s first game as captain of the Scotland National Team did not go as he would have liked. They struggled against World Cup semi-finalists Belgium before falling to a 4-0 defeat at Hampden Park in Glasgow on Friday.

Still, Alex McLeish showed a lot of faith in the young left-back who has been so impressive with Liverpool since he arrived from Hull City last summer. He’s already become a fan favorite thanks to his excellent performances on the pitch, friendly personality, and willingness to interact with the fans and the community.

Jürgen Klopp had some kind words to say about Robertson’s leadership abilities, as well as his quick development over the past year.

“Andy is a fantastic fella. He is a very smart and nice person. He can be a leader in the future, 100 per cent,” he said.

“He made big steps in the last one-and-a-half years since we worked together. That’s really cool. He has made big steps in the last four or five years since he started his career. So it’s a nice story.

“He is still young but he is a leader already and he will be even better in that in the future.”

When one looks at Liverpool’s young and talented defense, it’s hard not to get excited. It’s not just 24-year-old Robertson, whose speed and endeavor down the wing has jump-started several Liverpool goal opportunities this season. It’s also Joe Gomez, who is playing his first season in his dedicated position of center-back alongside Virgil van Dijk, one of the best defenders in the league — if not the world. And then on the other side of the pitch is Trent Alexander-Arnold, a young Scouser who grabbed his chance his both hands last season and ran with it, effectively unseating Nathaniel Clyne as Liverpool’s number one right-back. And behind them is their world record goalkeeper signing, Alisson. Between the five of them, they’ve only allowed in one goal in the first four games of the season.

In the handful of years that Klopp has lead this team, he’s taken what was the team’s biggest weakness and made it one of their biggest strengths.

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