Liverpool's Robertson is back and hungry for glory ahead of Carabao Cup final
Andy Robertson is a welcome exception to the Liverpool injury crisis that has overshadowed preparations for their Wembley final.
While several team-mates are crocked, the influential defender has recently returned from a long absence with a dislocated shoulder.
Jurgen Klopp will be relieved with today's Carabao Cup final against Chelsea, the first of four opportunities to celebrate his farewell season at Anfield with silverware.
Robbo has won every major trophy under the German and can see the irony of his own recovery contrasting with team-mates such as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota, who have been recently consigned to the treatment table.
'I've timed it right,' admits Robertson, who was injured playing for Scotland against Spain in October. 'It was my first operation in football and hopefully my last. I want to make up for lost time.
'Liverpool's injury crisis is there to be seen but I'm fortunate to be back. I don't know any footballer who is a good patient but I had to respect the injury as well as the experts doing my rehab. I never went too far ahead of myself. I just tried to improve from one Monday to the next.'
Robertson, an effervescent character who lifts the dressing room, has been eased back gently with three substitute appearances and a couple of starts since his return at the end of January.
It's just as well with Jota, Alexander-Arnold, Alisson, Joel Matip, Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai, Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic all ruled out. Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez are also doubts after missing the midweek win against Luton with muscular issues.
Liverpool's team has changed dramatically since defeating Chelsea in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup finals in 2022, on each occasion the games going to penalties
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