Jordan Henderson has told Andy Robertson that he backed him to score in Liverpool’s penalty shootout win yesterday.
The dressing room footage comes from the Liverpool FC official Twitter page. In the video, The Reds captain can be seen in celebratory mood as he enters the changing room.
He is immediately confronted by Robertson who has a question for his teammate.
“Did you back me?” asked the left-back with a grin. A pause from Henderson apparently gave Robbo all the answers he need.
“You didn’t back me, you didn’t back me!” he says with a shake of the head.
“I did back you, of course I backed you!” replied Henderson, dispelling any doubt.
It’s the kind of cheekiness that we’ve become accustomed to seeing from Robertson. But Hendo is a captain who always appears to have full belief in those around him.
We’ve no doubt he fully expected his teammate to bury his penalty.
Penalty kings
Robertson was one of all 11 Liverpool players to find the net from the spot.
Mohamed Salah already had competition for penalty duties as Fabinho emerged as a potential alternative to the Egyptian.
A few other Liverpool players threw their names into the hat with their penalties on Sunday night.
Trent Alexander-Arnold in particular absolutely whipped his effort into the far corner. The 23-year-old’s technique in striking a ball could be seen in all its glory as he left Kepa with no chance despite the ‘keeper guessing the right way.
Virgil Van Dijk was another who showed his credentials from 12 yards. The Dutch centre-back buried a bullet past Kepa who couldn’t get near it, despite being stood exactly where Van Dijk aimed the shot.
Then there was Caoimhin Kelleher. The Irishman was a former striker in his youth and it showed here as he wrapped his foot around the ball and fired it high into the net.
Not to be outdone, Salah found the net with a lovely penalty that rippled the side netting.
James Milner reminded Liverpool fans why he was the selection for so long. His was a nerveless penalty which got The Reds up and running in the shootout.
But top of the pile was Fabinho.
A Panenka penalty can be a risky business at the best of times. But the Brazilian has such confidence in front of goal at the moment that he went for the audacious dink when called upon.
A truly sumptuous penalty.
Mentality monsters
It was fitting that in a competition where Jurgen Klopp utilised his whole squad, that all eleven players on the pitch were called upon right at the end.
We can’t say we had the same level of faith as Henderson did in all of them.
But the players showed that the famous ‘mentality monsters’ tag is still alive and kicking. The quadruple is on!
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