Scotland captain Andy Robertson admits he is thrilled to have made English Premier League history in Liverpool’s 3-1 win at Aston Villa on Boxing Day.
Robertson now has the most assists for a defender in the all-time standings after taking his tally to 54 by setting up Mo Salah for the opener.
The left-back is one clear of former Wigan and Everton full-back Leighton Baines and also leads Reds team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is on 45.
Five of those assists have come this season and the former Dundee United and Queen’s Park player is delighted to have surpassed the previous best.
He said: “I equalled it just before the break and I knew I did that with two against Southampton.
“During the break I just wanted to try to get back and beat it.
“First game back, it's always nice.
“Look, I'm not really into individual things and things like that – I'm all for the team. But when you do stuff like that and you're in the Premier League against some unbelievable defenders, it's always nice to put yourself at the top there.
“I’ve just seen Mo at the back post. Look, full-back has evolved a lot and it's about going forward now as well as defending.
“But first and foremost, I want to defend and things like that – but it's a big part of our game.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who signed Robertson from Hull City in an £8 million deal in 2017, was also full of praise for the 28-year-old.
He said: “We don’t have that much time, but he is a great guy. I am not so much into stats, but what came first to my mind was the guy we bought from Hull.
“We knew he was an exceptional talent, but personality and character makes you the player you can be.
“He obviously really had a good basis for that. He was a real talent offensively; defensively he was not that good and I remember when he came into my office after half a year because he didn’t play a lot [about] what he has to change.
“I explained to him how he has to defend again and I said, ‘I am disappointed I have to tell you again because I told you a couple of times, that is the thing you have to change and everything is fine.’
“Now he obviously is a proper defender and still sets up balls. I have so many balls in my mind where he missed the free player in the middle; imagine he would have been there, more accurate as well, then the number is even crazier. It’s a great number and really special.”
