No one embodies the reckless joy of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool more than Andrew Robertson

The 25-year-old simply never stops and could scarcely be more emblematic of the Premier League champions in waiting’s relentless march to the title

You can see why opponents do not like Andrew Robertson. The Liverpool left back is annoying.

The 25-year-old never stops. His appetite for the game appears inexhaustible. He chases up and down the line relentlessly, barely taking a breather. In a game that seems increasingly po-faced, he gives the impression of a man having fun.

It can be less pleasurable for rival players. In Liverpool’s 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane, Robertson provoked fury for his second-half challenge on Japhet Tanganga. The Scot overran the ball, creating a 60:40 situation that favoured the Spurs defender. The clash was audible in the stands 30 yards away. Jose Mourinho thought the Liverpool man was lucky to escape a red card. The tackle was full-blooded and rash from both men. Tanganga’s part in it was largely overlooked. That is probably because of Robertson’s style. He performs with reckless joy.

Physicality is part of the sport’s spectacle. Modern football is a serious business and sometimes it feels like Premier League players are overwhelmed by their work. Pressure can take enjoyment out of any job and turn it into a chore. Liverpool are a team that look like they are having a good time. Jurgen Klopp has created an upbeat environment at Anfield and winning sides have the luxury of playing with a smile. No one relishes their involvement more than Robertson.

He should have been awarded a red card against Tottenham but not for the tangle with Tanganga. There was no malice in that contest, just two men totally committed to winning the ball and fixated on gaining possession. Martin Atkinson, the referee, did not blow for a foul. In slow motion contact invariably looks worse.

There was another incident in the closing minutes that did not reflect well on Robertson. With Spurs pushing on for an equaliser, the left back pursued a Liverpool clearance. Toby Alderweireld propelled the ball forward and Robertson, who could have pulled out of the challenge, left a dangling foot and clipped the centre back’s shin with some force long after attention had switched elsewhere. Play continued and, with Tottenham preoccupied with chasing the game, there was little fuss when the ball finally went dead. Alderweireld will not forget the moment so easily. It was a nasty cameo, uncalled for and unnecessary. The contact was too late even to qualify as a tactical foul. There was never a chance of it stopping the Spurs attack.

Robertson’s competitive instincts sometimes overstep the mark but his fierceness is largely channelled in a positive manner. He is not one of the more prodigiously talented players in Klopp’s squad but he more than makes up for it with energy and intelligence. Liverpool’s full backs make the team tick and have been rightly lauded. Trent Alexander-Arnold, with his range of skills, has been the focus of most attention. The 21-year-old exudes class, is home-grown and has the potential to operate in a variety of positions. Robertson has a more basic skillset but is equally valuable to this team.

Alexander-Arnold’s flank is often targeted by opponents. Tottenham tried to get the ball down the seam between the right back and Joe Gomez. It did not work but there is a perception that the weakest part of the Scouser’s game is his defending. No one attempts to isolate Robertson in the same way.

The pair work together beautifully, not just with their attacking play and creativity. At White Hart Lane, Robertson chased an early Spurs corner out to the right and ended up in Alexander-Arnold’s position. The England defender slotted in on the left and, for almost five minutes, the full backs continued on the ‘wrong’ wing. There was no mad scramble across the pitch while the ball was in play. They waited for a prolonged break in the action before returning to their normal positions – taking time to exchange a slapped handshake along the way. To judge by their smiles, both enjoyed their sojourn into unfamiliar territory.

It is easy to see why Alexander-Arnold is so important at Anfield. In a multinational age, a local boy who understands the nature of the city and how important the club is on Merseyside gives the team an extra dimension. Yet it would be foolish to underestimate the significance of having a Scot in the side. Liverpool’s greatest teams have had their identity coloured by Scottish influence. From Alex Raisbeck, captain of the club’s first title-winning team, through Billy Liddell, Bill Shankly, Graeme Souness and Kenny Dalglish, Scots have become icons. Robertson is the latest and while he may be nowhere near the greatest he has already earned cult status on the Kop.

His spikiness, when directed properly, provides a mean streak for a team that, until Robertson’s emergence as a first-team regular two years ago, could be a little timid. Kicking people is the least of it. Robertson messed with Lionel Messi’s mind in last year’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona. His disrespectful buffeting of the Argentinian superstar’s head unhinged Barca. It sent a message that the Catalan side could not expect an easy night despite their 3-0 lead. That moment early in the game was as crucial to Liverpool’s 4-0 victory as Alexander-Arnold’s clever corner for Divock Origi’s winning goal.

Robertson is a pleasure to watch and a nightmare to play against. Every time he surges forward, he looks to press on. His speciality is the one-two, rolling the ball inside to a team-mate and charging down the line in expectation of the return pass. Wingers envy his ability to reach the byline.

Against Tottenham, the left back stood out, as he has all season. There are a handful of candidates for Footballer of the Year in Klopp’s all-conquering team but the Scotland captain should be a serious contender for the prize. His delight in playing is infectious. He may not win the Professional Footballers’ Association award because he raises hackles on the pitch but that only underlines his effectiveness. No one in the league is more fun to watch than Robertson.