Interview'I'll take the assist but it was unbelievable from Bobby'

A pre-planned corner routine – designed by assistant manager Peter Krawietz and his analysis team – broke the deadlock in Wednesday’s Champions League last-16 first leg at San Siro.

Robertson delivered the set-piece from the right into the near-post area and Firmino, who had lost his marker as he darted towards the ball, guided a looping header into the opposite side of the net.

“I’ll take the cross, of course I will, but it’s an unbelievable header and Bobby has done so much work for that,” Robertson told Liverpoolfc.com post-match in Milan.

“He deserves it. Bobby is an incredible footballer and he deserves that goal. He was so happy that he scored and rightly so in a big game.”

The left-back continued: “I thought the subs that came on made a big difference tonight.

“I thought Bobby when he came on was excellent, Hendo was unbelievable when he came on and I can’t speak highly enough of his performance because we were under pressure when he came on. Him and Naby made a big difference as well, Luis as well of course, but we brought on three subs [simultaneously on the hour mark] and that’s the beauty of it.

“It kind of changed the game because we started to get a foothold on the game and I think that’s where the credit has to go to Hendo because he got hold of the ball, grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, which is never easy coming off the bench. I thought he was terrific tonight.”

It was a can’t-take-your-eyes-off contest with the reigning Serie A champions, for whom Hakan Calhanoglu went closest when he crashed a shot against the crossbar at 0-0 during the first half.

But Liverpool came away with an important advantage as Mohamed Salah clipped in a second of the night eight minutes after Firmino had opened the scoring a quarter-hour from the end.

Robertson warned the tie is not over, with Inter still to visit Anfield on March 8, though underlined the level of determination the Reds have to pick up silverware in the coming months.

“We weren’t quite at 100 per cent but when you are not there you need to do enough to win the game,” he said. “I thought we always did that and I thought we were in control of the game, we defended really well and I don’t really remember Ali having too many saves to make.

“But, look, this tie isn’t over. Inter Milan are a really good team, they showed that tonight, and they will come to Anfield full of confidence and thinking they can cause us problems and try to get into the last eight.

“It’s important we make it a special occasion, our fans always do and it’s important we react off that and try to get in the last eight. We want to fight on all fronts, we want to try to win trophies and the only way to do that is by staying in the competitions.”