Liverpool defender Andy Robertson shrugged off being targeted with projectiles including lighters by Benfica fans during Tuesday night’s Champions League clash, joking: “Maybe it’ll help them stop smoking!”
The Scottish international was peppered by the home fans as he tried to take a late corner during Liverpool’s 3-1 quarter-final first leg victory at Stadio da Luz.
First-half goals from Ibrahima Konate and Sadio Mane had put the Reds in control before Darwin Nunez pulled one back for the Portuguese side, but Luis Diaz’s late third left them needing to pull of remarkable comeback at Anfield next week.
Former Porto man Diaz had been the subject of jeers throughout on his return to Portugal and the home fans’ ire bubbled over after his strike, with Robertson on the receiving end.
“They weren’t best pleased were they?,” Robertson told BT Sport. “I had quite a few lighters thrown at me so maybe it’ll help them stop smoking! Take the positives.
“We’ve seen it a lot with people getting hit, things like that. Luckily, they were all quite close to me but none of them hit me.
“They’re frustrated, I get that, but you should try and not throw stuff onto the pitch because it can hurt people. I was just trying to take the corner and get out of there as quickly as possible.”
