Andy Robertson was greeted with a standing ovation from Liverpool fans as he made his first return to Anfield with Tottenham, having left the Reds after nine years in the summer
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 15: Andrew Robertson of Tottenham Hotspur acknowledges the fans after the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on September 15, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Andy Robertson was given a standing ovation by Liverpool fans on his return to Anfield(Image: Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola paid tribute to Andy Robertson with a classy message to the Liverpool legend following his return to Anfield.
Robertson was back on Merseyside for the first time since leaving the Reds during the summer as his Tottenham side fell to a 3-1 defeat in the Carabao Cup. Goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai booked the hosts’ place in the fourth round, and piled more misery on a beleaguered Spurs side.
Liverpool legend Robertson was made to wait for his chance to step back out onto the Anfield turf, having brought his nine-year spell with the Reds to an end during the summer.
His name was greeted with a loud cheer from the home crowd though when it was read out ahead of kick-off, and Liverpool’s fans made their feelings even clearer when Robertson was eventually called from the bench just before the hour mark.
The Scotland international’s introduction was greeted by a standing ovation across the stands at Anfield, with supporterts also reprising the song they sang throughout his nine-year spell with the Reds.
Giving his thoughts on Robertson’s reception, Iraola told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I think he deserves all this and I was happy. I was thinking he honestly deserves this because he has given so much to Liverpool."
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 15: Andy Robertson of Tottenham Hotspurs (L) and Jeremie Frimpong of Liverpool embrace ahead of the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on September 15, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Andy Robertson is greeted by Jeremie Frimpong on his return to Liverpool with Tottenham(Image: Getty Images)
Robertson couldn’t prevent his new side from falling to another defeat this season, with Spurs having now won just one of their six fixtures so far, with their sole victory coming against Championship side Charlton in the second round of the cup last month.
The 32-year-old was warmly welcomed back by his former teammates though, and Robertson will no doubt have appreciated the reception from Liverpool’s fans.
“The supporters are what make Liverpool Football Club what it is," Robertson wrote in a letter to the club's fans before his final game. "They are the club. The connection I’ve built with them is something I’ll carry with me forever.
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“To be part of a team that delivered success for them will always mean everything to me. The special days and nights, the trophies, the celebrations, the parades — those memories will stay with me forever. But honestly, I think the difficult moments matter just as much too. The ones where we fell short, where we suffered together, where the whole city felt the disappointment alongside us.
“Because that’s what made the bond so special. We won together, we lost together, we laughed, celebrated, cried and mourned together. We went through all of it together. There was always a feeling that the supporters and the team were pulling in the same direction, fighting for each other. I’ll forever be grateful I got the chance to be part of that.”