'This city and this club has to fight for everything' - six things spotted in 'The Reds Roundtable'

Feature'This city and this club has to fight for everything' - six things spotted in 'The Reds Roundtable'

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By Joe Urquhart

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Mohamed Salah, Alisson Becker and Andy Robertson all feature alongside presenter Kelly Cates in the new episode of 'The Reds Roundtable.'

The fresh instalment was released on Wednesday and Liverpoolfc.com has picked out six things to note from the latest chapter in the series, which has been produced alongside main club partner Standard Chartered.

Watch the video in full below and read on for the key moments…

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Salah on why focus matters

Remaining focused throughout games is vital for every footballer.

Salah, however, discussed the importance of attitude and the role that it plays on those rare off days, revealing the advice he was once given from a former manager that has stayed with him during his career.

"I think I get advice from Arsene Wenger before," Salah recalled. "He was in Melwood at that time, I asked him what's different between a good player and a really, really good player. He said, 'I think the very, very good player is always focused in the game. Even if he doesn't have the momentum, he stays in the game until the last minute or until the whistle.'

"I think for me, I know there's some games where I don't have the momentum, I don't have the game, but I'm always focused in the game. Johnny [Heitinga] when he came here this year, he's like, 'Oh Mo, you're not playing good today!' and I say, 'Yeah, but I always find a moment!' I'm not always very good in the game, it's normal, we're still human, but I always try to find a way to change a game.

"I think some players don't accept the feeling and keep fighting it, but if you accept it and embrace it, it's nothing. It's more your imagination going in your head. But if you accept it and embrace it, it's OK to feel that way. It's OK to have a bad game, it's important to stay in the game and try to make a difference."

Alisson works with his idol

The saying goes that you should never meet your heroes.

Alisson, though, works with his day in, day out at the AXA Training Centre alongside goalkeeping coach Claudio Taffarel, who has played a key role in shaping the Brazilian. Liverpool's No.1 also had some nice words for his teammates, too.

"For me, I think goalkeepers always," Alisson said of who he takes inspiration from. "Taffa who works with us has a big influence and big impact on my career. Also in our environment we have a lot of people to look at.

"Like Mo, he is a good example for a good professional. Robbo, the way he plays, he is always ready to set the team on fire with his crazy running on the pitch. So, we have those examples on our side, but obviously I try to look at the best in your position to try to help me."

Robertson's commitment to his journey

From Queen's Park to Anfield via a number of (very) famous social media posts.

Robertson has worked his way up from part-time football in Scotland to lifting the Premier League and Champions League.

But what got him there? Very much his belief and commitment to giving everything he possibly could to leave himself with no regrets in the game.

He revealed: "Whatever path I was going to take, I just committed to [the fact] I was going to put absolutely everything into it. So, if I was sitting in a normal job I know that I gave everything to football and it wasn't meant to be and now I'll put everything into whatever I'm going to be now.

"I think that was the attitude I took from very early on. If anyone ever asked me, I'd just say give everything 100 per cent, because then at least you know you've applied yourself to it 100 per cent, and if it doesn't work out then it's not meant for you and something will be for you with that same attitude and process."

A late Champions League final penalty decision

Only Mo.

Liverpool's Champions League triumph in 2019 against Tottenham Hotspur has rightly gone down in club folklore.

'Big Ears' was secured in Madrid for a sixth time and a huge part of the victory was Salah's penalty in the opening exchanges of the contest to set the Reds on the way.

Here, Salah reveals all about his vital penalty...

"I changed my mind where I put the ball when I was running [up]," Salah confessed with a smile.

"I practised the whole week for the other side. Then I just took the run like this and then I changed my mind. I felt really bad after that. Even until now every time I see it I say, 'Why did I change my mind?' Because sometimes when you take a decision you practise very well and you miss and you don't feel bad about it because I did everything and you had bad luck.

"But when you change your mind in a Champions League final… it was too much pressure, to be fair! I just managed to stay calm and shoot the ball inside the net and that's it."

Why battling tough times matters too

It's not only the trophies that have stuck out for all three sat in discussion.

Amid the behind-closed-doors games and the 2020-21 season that followed the COVID-19 pandemic, Liverpool were battling to make the top four and Champions League qualification.

Robertson recalls how important it felt to achieve the finish for what was to come in future among the team's leadership group.

"I think that season obviously won't go down as our best," the full-back said. "When things are good it's easy to be a leader, it's easy to be a captain or manager because you're winning.

"I think Mo put out a couple of Instagram posts and things like that. But we just fought for everything we had and I think that was a big achievement for us and when I look back on my time at Liverpool that will be up there with the trophies."

'This city and this club has to always fight for everything'

Salah has his eyes on the prize(s) under Arne Slot.

Liverpool are fighting once more in the Champions League and Premier League and their aims, as always, are hugely ambitious at Anfield.

"Win it all!" Salah said with a huge grin on what he wants to achieve.

"In my opinion, I work so hard every day. I hate the idea that we're underdogs. No! We have an incredible group. [Alisson] is one of the best in the world… in each position you're going to find a player who is really one of the top three in the world. So, why don't we win it?

"This city and this club has to always fight for everything."

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This article has been automatically translated and, while all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, some errors in translation are possible. Please refer to the original English-language version of the article for the official version.