Liverpool fans loved Andy Robertson getting revenge on Rafinha for Sadio Mane in Club World Cup final
Andy Robertson can seemingly do no wrong in the eyes of Liverpool fans, but managed to enhance his reputation further by leaping to the defence of teammate Sadio Mane against Flamengo.
Roberto Firmino scored the goal which saw the Reds crowned Club World Cup champions on a night which did little to enhance FIFA's decision to stage major tournaments in Qatar.
The Brazil international scored in a 1-0 win against compatriots Flamengo in the extra period to ease the feeling of injustice which had unfolded deep into added time at the end of 90 minutes.
Jurgen Klopp's side had a penalty chalked off by VAR after Qatari referee Abdulrahman Al Jassim consulted his pitchside monitor and ruled Mane had been fouled outside the area.
However, instead of a free-kick and red card for Rafinha Al Jassim awarded a drop-ball to Flamengo, just the latest on a night of strange decisions.
In the final minute of the first half, Ballon d’Or nominee Mane was harshly booked for a foul on Rafinha, a decision which infuriated the Senegal international.
But Scotland captain Robertson instantly reassured his teammate he would exact his own form of revenge before the final whistle.
The Reds duo were walking off the pitch when Robertson appeared to tell Mane: “Sadio, I'll get him don't worry.”
And just seven minutes into the second half, Rafinha was duly dumped onto the turf by Robertson.
Check it out in the clip below.
Given the way the game was going, it seemed it was going to be fourth time unlucky for Liverpool, who had come up short in this competition in 1981, 1984 and 2005.
You could almost hear a collective 'told you so' from critics back in England who felt Klopp should have prioritised the Carabao Cup - instead of sending out a youth team to get beat 5-0 by Aston Villa - over this tournament.
However, Firmino, who had missed the first chance after just 42 seconds, finished off a sweeping move started by Jordan Henderson, benefiting from Mane's hold-up play and lay-off 10 minutes into extra-time.
And, as the final whistle blew, Robertson could again be seen getting into a confrontation with Rafinha.
However, as you can see in the video below, he was backed up by captain Henderson and James Milner this time around!