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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

'Horrible man!' - Andy Robertson makes Diogo Jota claim and lifts lid on Liverpool 'leadership group'

Andy Robertson has revealed how Liverpool's 'leadership group' helps keep order in the dressing room - and why Diogo Jota is regarded as "horrible" by his team-mates.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp initially introduced the group in 2018 when Virgil van Dijk was installed after a player vote as third in line behind skipper Jordan Henderson and vice-captain James Milner.

The number was then expanded to six in 2021 when Robertson joined Alisson Becker and Trent Alexander-Arnold in being included.

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And the left-back has lifted the lid on some of the demands the Reds squad expect from each other and why one player in particular can become a stickler for timekeeping.

"Hendo and Millie make a lot of decisions," said Robertson. "For instance like fines, Millie is the fine police, he is in charge. Since I have been here he has been fined once and the place erupted!

"Some of the fines are expensive. If you forget your passport for an away trip, you're getting a lot of your wage taken off you. It's happened a few times, Sadio (Mane) was a big culprit for that and obviously it delays the plane and delays when we get there. We had to put a big fine in.

"There were a couple of silly ones in pre-season. In pre-season because you're together for so long, people turn ruthless. Jota is a horrible man when it comes to the fines! He is there waiting for the clock.

"We have this argument that say the bus is meant to leave at 1pm, if you come at 15 seconds after one, are you late or are you not late? Me and Millie would say that's late. But some of the others aren't too happy with that, but other than there are no real daft ones.

"When people are late for the bus, the bus all starts clapping and the lads hate it. It's double on matchdays, you don't want to be late then!"

Speaking on the latest 'We are Liverpool' podcast, Robertson has also explained the difference between the leadership qualities of those in the group, and highlighted how Alexander-Arnold has become a standard bearer for the next generation.

"We all have different ways of leading," he said. "Hendo can carry the team, look after everyone pretty much, that's always been the way. Millie can demands standards and give you a rocket when you need a rocket in a nice way. Virgil is always commanding at the back and can talk. I can help the younger players and things like that.

"Trent is a bit more new to it, he's still young but is also a leader in every way. Every young lad that comes up looks at Trent and thinks 'I want to follow his career path'. He is the poster boy for the Academy. He sets standards the way he goes about his business, the way he plays, his attitude, his mentality and if I'm a young lad he's a perfect person to look at, the way he conducts himself off the pitch as well."

And while Mohamed Salah is a notable absentee from the leadership group, Robertson explains why the Liverpool forward remains one of the most influential players in the dressing room.

Asked which players would also want to be in the select committee, he said: "Maybe Mo, but Mo is the leader of his country. That's the benefit, we have so many captains. We have international captains, and Mo is one of the biggest leaders in our changing room without being in the leadership group. He helps us all. He sets standards by being one of the best players in the world."

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