Andy Robertson has admitted that he has a 'soft spot' for fellow Scot Ben Doak and is 'buzzing' to see him break into Liverpool's first team.
Robertson set a new record on Boxing Day when he became the defender with the most assists in the Premier League. The Scotland captain's first time cross for Mohamed Salah, following a sublime sprayed pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold, was his 54th assist in the top flight.
It helped set the Reds on their way to an important 3-1 away win, as Jurgen Klopp's side look to battle their way back into Champions League qualification contention, but the former Hull City defender expects his new record to be challenged pretty quickly by teammate Alexander-Arnold on the opposite flank.
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Speaking to Liverpool's official website, Robertson said: “You are up against some unbelievable players from the Premier League but obviously I’m out on my own just now and I’ve managed to go ahead of Leighton Baines, who always had fantastic numbers.
“But there’s a certain somebody quite close behind me [Alexander-Arnold on 45 assists] and he’s got a lot more years on his side unfortunately! I’m sure he will overtake it but I’m happy to be there just now and happy to contribute. It was an unbelievable ball from Trent [for Salah's goal]. Sometimes they are more important than the actual assist. The ball to me was unbelievable and I just saw Mo across the front and it was a perfect start.”
Robertson has been enthused by the emergence of younger players in the first team and was delighted to see teenage midfielder Stefan Bajcetic score his maiden senior Liverpool goal against Villa, while 17-year-old Doak also came off the bench to make his first Premier League appearance.
The latter has followed Robertson to England from Scotland, after completing a switch from Celtic in the summer when he was still just 16.
Speaking about the pair, Robertson said: “He’s [Bajcetic] a fantastic player. He’s got a huge future ahead of him, lots of potential. He was unbelievable. When he came on he broke up the play, that’s what he’s probably well known for, not quite his goalscoring, but it was a massive goal for us. I’m so happy for him and young Ben.
“I’ve got a soft spot for young Ben for obvious reasons. When he came on I was just buzzing for him. For such a young age he’s been unbelievable since he’s come into the squad, no fear, trying to dribble past all of us, keeping us young and keeping us fresh. We saw that.
“Fair play to all the young lads, they all step up and we’ve got some brilliant ones around us. It’s important we try to help them, they are the future and I think they both showed our future is pretty bright.”
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