News'I feel good and positive' - Andy Robertson details return to fitness
The left-back returned to action with Liverpool in January having been sidelined for around three-and-a-half months as a result of a serious shoulder injury.
Robertson then played through the pain barrier at club level to complete the last campaign and went on to captain Scotland at Euro 2024.
Upon linking up with Arne Slot’s Reds squad in July following his summer break, Robertson was undertaking an individual programme ahead of 2024-25.
He travelled with the team for the club’s USA pre-season tour, however, and made a first on-pitch appearance in the behind-closed-doors friendly with Las Palmas at Anfield.
Speaking immediately after clocking up 79 minutes in the 2-0 victory over Ipswich Town last Saturday, the No.26 said: “I felt really good, all things considered.
“I was playing in pain from March onwards and obviously it was a really important time for the club and then a really important time for my country.
“I hoped that the three weeks off would have settled things down but it didn’t and I needed a wee bit longer. So I managed to get my fitness up to a really good level in terms of not being with the team, which was hugely frustrating.
“But I made sure I was in America, in every team meeting going, asking the coaches questions, things like that, and trying to learn even when I could not be on the pitch. I knew that would put me in the best possible shape when I was on the pitch.
“There’s still lots to learn for all of us – it’s a completely new way of playing and new philosophy and everything. It will take a bit of time, of course it will.
“Obviously coming off towards the end, I started to get a little bit tired, which is normal, but I felt good, I feel good. I am pain-free for the first time in five months, which is always positive, so long may it continue.”
Team newsConfirmed Liverpool line-up v Bayer Leverkusen
AcademyYouth League match report: Liverpool 4-1 Bayer Leverkusen
Programme notesArne Slot: The biggest respect we can pay Xabi is to be the best Liverpool
Programme notesVirgil van Dijk: We need to take Brighton positives into Leverkusen clash
Champions LeagueThe opposition lowdown: Bayer Leverkusen