Max: You went from Crewe in Division 4 to Liverpool Football Club. How did that feel?
Rob: “It was an unbelievable feeling, I think it was also because I was a Liverpool fan. I used to go to the games. If I got the chance when Crewe weren’t playing, I used to spend my time in the Kop and watch. When I got the phone call saying Liverpool were interested in buying me and wanted me to go to Anfield the next day, it was just… it was a dream come true. One minute you’re standing in the Kop, next minute you’re on the pitch playing with the stars like John Barnes, Ian Rush, Steven Nicholes… it was just an unbelievable experience for me.”
Max: In the Crewe game, you weren’t scouted at first but Souness saw your potential.
Rob: “I’ve been in Crewe’s first team since I was 16. The manager gave me an early chance when I was still at school. The season Liverpool watched me – or came to look at somebody else – I caught their eye. Souness and Saunders at the time came to watch, and thought I had the ability. They decided to watch another game, and then the day after I got a phone call. It was a big decision for Souness, gambling on a fourth division player he’s only seen a couple of times.”
Max: Graeme obviously put a lot of trust in you, would you say you two shared a good relationship?
Rob: “I think so. I’ve always had a lot of respect for him, because he bought me and gave me a chance to play for the club I supported. I have always been a Liverpool supporter. I felt it helped, as every time I went onto that pitch I always gave 110%. I had the passion there. I always wanted to win. I always respected Graeme, and still do.”
Max: Some of your mates are probably Liverpool fans, how did you tell them that you signed for the club they adored?
Rob: “It was a whirlwind. When I got that phone call, it was late on a Thursday night, I got picked up on Friday morning and got took to Anfield. It was hard to tell anybody, I only just about told my mum and dad! On Saturday morning, we were training again and then playing Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. It probably wasn’t a bad thing… I didn’t have much time to think about it. I was thrown straight into the deep end at Old Trafford. Luckily I played well, and that gave me the confidence to carry on playing well for the whole season.”
Max: You struggled with injuries. How tough was it mentally?
Rob: “It is tough. There’s a good side of Liverpool, like signing for the club and playing against United. I carried on great for the rest of the season. I signed for Liverpool in October and in Febuary, I made my England debut. After that, I started feeling the shin splints that were causing me a lot of problems. I was playing well. I didn’t want to stop playing so I just carried on. We won the FA Cup Final and then it was after that, that I joined up with England and was supposed to go to the European Championships. Graeme knew that I had been struggling, England took me for a scan and they could see it was worse than they initially thought and I needed a rest during the summer. That’s what I ended up doing. But I thought I had a good season, so I wasn’t that bothered. That was the start of the shin splints. I joined Liverpool in pre-season and we still hadn’t cured the problem. We got through a little bit of pre-season when I broke down. I think it was about September that I had an operation on both my shins. I was out for another two months. Then I got through most of the season.”
Max: An injury is one of the worst things that can happen… you see Daniel Sturridge, he came back after a long injury and days later got hit by another injury. What goes through your mind when this happens?
Rob: “As you can imagine, it’s really disappointing. The same thing happened with me a couple of times. When I had a bad knee injury, I would work hard in the gym and get back to full fitness. After about three months when I was back, I remember playing one game and I broke down again. You’re back on the treatment table, back having another operation and back to square one. All that work you’ve done for three months to try and get yourself right…mentally looking forward to it… and then you break down again. You can imagine the feeling yourself. It’s disappointing. That happened to me a couple of times. You just need people around you to get yourself back up.”
“In my time at the academy, there have been a couple of youngsters who faced similar situations – coming back from injuries and then breaking down again after a couple of games. I just said to them, “you just gotta keep strong mentally… and know that you will get back to full fitness.”
Max: You played as a full-back, what are the qualities you need as a full-back?
Rob: “I had a lot of pace, as a full-back nowadays you need pace; energy as well. Liverpool play with three centre-halves so when you’re playing as a wing-back, there’s a lot of running to do. Pace can get you out of a lot of situations. If you’ve got a good winger against you, like Ryan Giggs for example, you need to be a good defender as well. You need to be aware of what’s around you. You look at most of the full-backs now and they are all very fast… like Moreno.”
Max: Has it changed a lot from your days? It’s a lot more attacking now, isn’t?
Rob: “Yeah, definitely. When I played as a wing-back, we were going a lot more forward. But even now, the way Liverpool like to play, even if we play in a back four the full-backs are very attacking – their starting position is on the halfway line, whereas my starting position would be at the edge of our box. They’re always asked to push on.”
Max: You work with Liverpool now. How does that feel? You were a fan, then a player and now a coach.
Rob: “It was great. It was around 18 months ago that I got a phone call from Brendan and I was asked to come in and see him. I went to see him and he mentioned that in all the clubs he was at, there were a lot of ex-players around, and they just really wanted some ex-players around the club. They asked me to help out with the defenders; Steve Mcmanaman to do the midfielders, and Robbie Fowler for the forwards. It’s great. Just to be asked to come back and be a part of the club again is fantastic. It has worked. There’s a lot of talent in the academy coming through, we’ve seen the likes of Rossiter, Ibe, Williams… they’re on the verge of getting into the first team. There are so many others coming up as well, it’s an exciting time for the academy. Brendan and Alex Inglethorpe are working together to get these young lads to get into first team.”
Max: Which of them have you been impressed by the most?
Rob: “They’re all individual players. Rossiter has great potential, but unluckily he picked up an injury in the FA Youth Cup which will set him out for the season. Jordan Williams, who had a little stint with the first team, has come back and played a couple of U21 games and what he shows is his class and composure when he comes back into the U21s. You can see he’s above the level, and that’s why Brendan keeps bringing him back to the first team. We’ve also got a few young lads, 16/17 year olds, who are pushing for the U18s and U21s. In the next 18 months we are going to see a lot more of the academy lads being given a chance.”
Max: I personally rate Chirivella highly, how has this season been for him?
Rob: “He’s been excellent. He’s progressed this season so much. He’s been listening and getting some good coaching from Beale. His defending, passing and composure are excellent and he’s one of them who’s definitely there for the future. There are a few around who are as good as him, but he’s one for the future… 100%.”
Max: One good thing about Brendan Rodgers is if you perform in training, you will get a chance…
Rob: “Yeah, he’s always on the phone asking who has been impressing. He calls a few of the lads to Melwood to train with the first team. Brendan’s giving them the chance, and it’s up to them to show that they’re good enough to go a bit further and be put in the first team squad.”
Max: How important do you feel the Europa League is? Is it more important than the top four, silverware and Champions League?
Rob: “Definitely. The aim is to get into the Champions League. Since Christmas our league form has been exceptional, we’re playing a lot better defensively and scoring goals. We have Sturridge back and looking good at the moment. We can win the Europa League. If you look at the teams in there, some of them are good, but Liverpool are firing on all cylinders at the moment. Sturridge is back and he’s like a new signing. Sterling’s also back and Mario’s scoring… what else can you ask for?”
Max: Every player dreams about playing for their national side. How did it feel making your England debut?
Rob: “Amazing. I had only just signed for Liverpool in October, so I probably only played around 20 games by February. Graham Taylor obviously spotted something, and wanted to give me my debut. Walking out with some of the legends there, the crowd at Wembley… it was a big game as well. We ended up beating them 2-0 and I played well. It was a great experience for me.”
Max: Do you feel Brendan Rodgers is the right man to take Liverpool to glory?
Rob: “Yes. There was some pressure on him earlier this season which is understandable, but he’s shown he can turn it around. He’s passionate about the academy as well. Of course he has to buy players as well, but he’s looking and working at the academy, it’s a mix buying players and young prospects coming up. I definitely think he’s the man. I’ve been speaking to him as well, and his passionate for Liverpool Football Club is great. He is the man – 100%.”
Max
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