Andy Robertson was given a warm welcome by Liverpool supporters as he returned to Anfield
Andy Robertson of Tottenham Hotspur
Former Liverpool star Andy Robertson played against his old club(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
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Andoni Iraola paid a heartfelt tribute to Andy Robertson with a warm message to the Liverpool icon following his Anfield homecoming. Robertson returned to the Reds for the first time since leaving the club in the summer, losing 3-1 with Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup.
Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai scored to send Iraola's side through to the fourth round, heaping further misery on a struggling Spurs outfit. Former Liverpool stalwart Robertson had to bide his time before entering the pitch, having brought his nine-year stint to a close at the end of his contract over the summer.
The full-back's name had been met with a roar from home supporters before kick-off. Liverpool fans made their affection clear once again when the defender was brought on from the bench just before the hour mark.
The Scotland international was greeted with a standing ovation at Anfield, with supporters chanting his name. Although the pair never worked together, new Liverpool boss Iraola praised the reception for Robertson.
Sharing 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."
Robertson was unable to stop his new club from suffering another loss during his time on the pitch. Spurs have won just one of their six matches, with their sole victory coming against Charlton Athletic in an earlier round of the cup. The 32-year-old received a warm welcome from his former colleagues, though, and Robertson will undoubtedly have valued the response from Liverpool's supporters.
"The supporters are what make Liverpool Football Club what it is," Robertson wrote in a letter to the club's fans before his last game. "They are the club. The connection I've built with them is something I'll carry with me forever.
Andy Robertson of Tottenham Hotspur
Robertson came on as a substitute against Liverpool(Image: Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)
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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."