Robbo: There's nothing better than a late goal
Roberto Firmino's stoppage-time winner against Paris Saint-Germain was only what Andy Robertson felt Liverpool deserved from another dramatic European night at Anfield.
All the expectations ahead of the Champions League Group C opener were fulfilled in a thrilling contest between two sides who each held 100 per cent records this season before the clash.
Daniel Sturridge and James Milner had put the Reds two ahead in a quickfire first-half salvo but Thomas Meunier halved the deficit and Kylian Mbappe looked to have snatched a point for PSG late on.
But Firmino, introduced as a substitute, settled the topsy-turvy tie in Liverpool’s favour when he created space in the box to thread a diagonal finish beyond Alphonse Areola for 3-2.
Watch: Extended highlights of the Champions League classic
“All the fans and all the players, everybody around this club, has been waiting for the Champions League to start back since May,” Robertson told BT Sport.
“We got off to a good start; we made it a bit hard for ourselves but there’s nothing better than a late goal – Bobby has come off the bench and done that. To a man, we were brilliant I thought.”
The Scotland international continued: “I felt we controlled it. Obviously we lost the goal just before half-time and 2-1 is a bit uncomfortable.
“Then I thought we controlled the second half until they broke on us. We know the players they’ve got and it’s probably the only time they’ve really opened us up.
“At that point you thought it would be a draw but the lads stuck at it. We just kept on going and found a second wind going into the last 10 minutes, the chances kept on coming and Bobby’s finish was great. Fair play to him and all the lads have done brilliantly. It was a real team effort.”
Liverpool’s journey to the Champions League final last term was littered with frenetic and physical performances at Anfield that proved too much for their opponents to handle.
That ethos was evident again for long periods on Tuesday as Jürgen Klopp’s side refused to allow the star-studded visitors to gain a rhythm amid another intimidating din.
“That’s what we’re good at – getting in people’s faces – especially at home to make it uncomfortable,” said Robertson.
“We know if we all do that, the fans will get behind us and it’s a tough atmosphere to play in once they get behind us. You heard them at the end, it was different class. That’s what we try to do and luckily it paid off.”