Pundit reveals chat with Andy Robertson as record-breaking Liverpool reveal on the cards
Frank McAvennie has revealed that Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson insists he is a “defender first” as he closes in on Leighton Baines’ Premier League assists record.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Scotland international said Robertson is already one of the country’s great defenders.
As relayed by the Daily Star last Tuesday (5 July), the 28-year-old is only four assists shy of Baines’ 53 career total.
Robertson could well overtake the former Everton full-back once the 2022-23 season gets underway.
The Liverpool defender has played 202 fewer games than Baines and could eventually overtake Ashley Young’s 71 assists.
When asked if he thought the Scotland captain is becoming one of the country’s great defenders, McAvennie told Football Insider: “I think he’s already there.
“Scotland have these great defenders now, Kieran Tierney and Andy Robertson – two of the best left-backs that you’re ever likely to see.
“People were saying Robertson wouldn’t make it down in England and he was released a couple of times. People in Scotland didn’t rate him, even Celtic didn’t want him. They said he wasn’t good enough.
“He went to Queens Park Rangers and then he went down to Hull and all of a sudden he is what he is. For him to get that many assists is great.
“He plays like a wide midfield player but we know he’s not. You speak to Andy about creating chances and he says ‘first and foremost I’m a defender’. He cares more about not letting goals in than about scoring goals and I think that’s so good for a defender.
“With 200 games less than Baines, that’s not a bad achievement.”
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