Liverpool star Andrew Robertson lifts the lid on his club’s dressing room hierarchy
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Leadership within the Liverpool dressing room is shared among a handful of key senior players, Andrew Robertson has revealed.
According to the left-back, Jurgen Klopp introduced a ‘leadership group’ at Anfield in 2018 when the team chose Virgil van Dijk third in line behind captain Jordan Henderson and vice-captain James Milner.
Robertson, Alisson Becker and Trent Alexander-Arnold joined the Dutchman, who has become a vital leader on the pitch, and the six stars have kept order in the Reds’ camp since 2021.
Andrew Robertson has revealed the leaders that make up the Liverpool dressing room hierarchy
Captain Jordan Henderson is the figurehead of the club, but he is aided by a group of six bosses.
Eager to encourage high standards, the players police themselves when it comes to fines, although one person is said to be in charge of issuing particular penalties.
talking about the latest We Are Liverpool Podcast Via the club’s website, Robertson said: ‘Hendo (Henderson) and Millie (Milner) make a lot of decisions. For example, like the tickets, Millie is the ticket police, he’s in charge.
‘Since I’ve been here he’s been ticketed once and the place blew up! Some of the fines are expensive. If you forget your passport for a trip, they will take a lot out of your salary.
‘It has happened a few times, Sadio (Mane) was a big culprit for that and he obviously delays the plane and is delayed when we get there. We had to put a big fine.
Vice-Captain James Milner is in charge of policing the fines and is known for “rocketing” players.
Winger Diogo Jota, who is currently injured, is ‘horrible’ when it comes to tolerating delays.
The 28-year-old full-back described a player as “horrible” in terms of tolerating delays.
He added: ‘There were a couple of goofballs in pre-season. In the preseason, because they’re together for so long, people get ruthless. (Diogo) Jota is a horrible man when it comes to fines! He is there waiting for the watch.
“We have this argument: Let’s say the bus is due to leave at 1 pm, if you’re 15 seconds after 1, are you late or not late? Millie and I would say late. But some of the others aren’t too happy. with that, but other than that, there are no real suckers.
‘When people are late for the bus, the whole bus starts clapping and the guys hate it. It’s double on match days, so you don’t want to be late!
Virgil van Dijk became the third member of the ‘leadership group’ in 2018 after Henderson and Milner
Robertson has been an integral part of Jurgen Klopp’s team in recent seasons, helping the club win the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.
However, the Reds have endured a difficult time to start the 2022-23 campaign and sit ninth in the Premier League, 21 points behind leaders Arsenal and 10 points behind fourth-place Manchester United.
Leaders are undoubtedly essential during difficult periods of a season, and Robertson has revealed how the six leaders play out in specific roles within the locker room.
Alexander-Arnold, for example, tends to set an excellent example for the youngsters coming in, while Henderson and Van Dijk tend to be authoritative on the pitch.
As ‘academy poster boy’, Trent Alexander-Arnold (R) sets example for young players
“We all have different ways of leading,” he continued. ‘Hendo can lead the team, take care of everyone more or less, that’s always been the way.
‘Millie holds up to standards and can give you a rocket when you need it in a kind way. Virgil is always in command in the back and can talk. I can help the younger players and things like that.
Trent is a little bit newer to this, he’s still young but he’s also a leader in every way. All the youngsters who come by look at Trent and think, “I want to follow his career.”
‘He’s the academy’s poster boy. He sets standards in 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 watch, the way he carries himself off the pitch as well .