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Liverpool star Andrew Robertson still 'thinks kindly' of Marco Silva for career support
Jurgen Klopp and Marco Silva may not seem like the most natural bedfellows, but they have a shared success in the development of Andrew Robertson.
Robertson believes that the five months he worked under Silva at Hull City in 2017 allowed him to move up a level. So much so that, despite Hull’s relegation, Klopp brought him to Liverpool for a bargain £8 million.
Now, the left-back is arguably the best in his position in the Premier League and one of the most buccaneering full-backs in Europe.
Silva will get a first-hand view of how influential the Scot is on Sunday afternoon when his Everton team take on Liverpool at Goodison Park.
Their paths crossed in December when Robertson made a point of thanking Silva for what he had done for his career, but it was possibly lost in the aftermath of Divock Origi’s 96th-minute winner for Liverpool which caused pandemonium around Anfield.
“Marco was big for me,” said Robertson. “He improved all of us at Hull. He is someone I always think kindly of even if he’s now at the local rivals. He brought me on defensively and going forward as well.
“Every week was different. He does his research, and I am sure I am part of that research now. He looks at every player his team are against and can point out strengths and weaknesses.
“It was also the first time I had worked for a foreign manager. I had been used to Steve Bruce, Mike Phelan and the Scottish managers up the road.
“It was good to get a feel for the foreign way. It probably helped me settle in a wee bit here under this manager.”
Despite his positive impact the Portuguese could not save Hull from relegation. It was a scenario that Robertson had also faced two years previously.
Those setbacks give him perspective. As the dual forces of pressure and expectation threaten to sweep up those of a red persuasion on Merseyside, Robertson is enjoying the thrill ride.
No one needs to tell him that it is 29 years since Liverpool were last champions of England, but the 24-year-old refuses to be cowed by the weight of history. Some supporters regard him as a potential lucky charm. In 17 of Liverpool’s 18 previous titles, there has been at least one Scotsman in the team.
“Trust me, it’s a lot nicer to be going for a title than fighting relegation,” he said. “I have experienced it twice and especially the first time, I had to deal with the consequences.
“We went down to the Championship. I saw people lose their jobs and us as players getting 50 per cent wage reductions. Ultimately, we failed the fans and everyone connected with the club. That’s a different pressure, not a nice one. This is an enjoyable pressure.”