Andy Robertson insists international travel isn’t an excuse for Liverpool’s first half performance against Wolves and suggests Jurgen Klopp gave an expletive-laden team talk

• Andy Robertson says there aren’t any excuses for Liverpool first half display 
• Liverpool responded to beat Wolves 3-1, with Robertson on the scoresheet
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast It’s All Kicking Off! 

Andy Robertson has insisted that players travelling long distances during the international break isn’t an excuse for Liverpool’s disappointing first half performance in their win away to Wolves.

Liverpool eventually managed to prevail 3-1, with Robertson amongst the scorers, but they struggled in the first half at Molineux.

Robertson suggested that a livid Jurgen Klopp gave an expletive-laden team-talk at half-time. 

Robertson told TNT Sports: ‘I can tell you some of it but probably not all of it [what was said at half-time]. We weren’t at the races in the first half. You can come up with excuses with lads travelling the world but at the end of the day you need to be ready to play the game. It took us 45 minutes to get into it, Wolves were the better team and created the better chances.’

Some members of Liverpool’s squad had only recently returned from long international trips, with Alexis Mac Allister, for instance, having featured for Argentina in Bolivia. Goalkeeper Alisson, meanwhile, was an unused substitute for Brazil in Peru.

Andy Robertson says players travelling long distances isn’t an excuse for Liverpool’s first half performance against Wolves

Robertson suggested that Jurgen Klopp heavily criticised his players at half time

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Following their struggles in the first half, Liverpool improved somewhat after the break, with Mohamed Salah providing two assists.

There had been suggestions that Salah could leave Liverpool for Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad, but the winger provided a reminder of how important he is to Klopp’s team.

Robertson, who benefitted from a Salah assist, was full of praise for his team-mate.

Robertson said: ‘I don’t get many goals so it is always nice to score. We know they are quick on counters from corners so we had to be alert. Mo can always pick a pass so I thought I may as well go in there and thankfully I slotted it in. Delighted with the goal, so nice to get our noses in front.

‘I think during the speculation I thought he [Salah] was superb and on the pitch. There was a lot of talk outside it, but now that’s all done and dusted and I thought he put in another outstanding performance. I think sometimes he only gets credited when he gets goals now, which is a bit unfair, but he has got another two assists today. He got us back in the game and he was really good in the second half.’

Although Liverpool took some time to get going against Wolves, they have made an encouraging start to the Premier League season in terms of results, winning four and drawing one of their first five matches.

Hwang Hee-Chan had given Wolves the lead in the seventh minute, but Cody Gakpo equalised for Liverpool in the second half before Robertson put them ahead and Hugo Bueno scored an own goal late on.

Robertson praised team-mate Mohamed Salah, who provided two assists against Wolves

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