---
title: "Andy Robertson hails ‘serious player’ following Old Firm display"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/andy-robertson-hails-serious-player-following-old-firm-display/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2022-02-03T07:00:00Z"
modified: "2022-02-03T07:00:00Z"
---

# Andy Robertson hails ‘serious player’ following Old Firm display

[Liverpool](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2022/02/02/virals-liverpool-planning-mission-to-italy-regarding-serie-a-duo/) defender [Andy Robertson](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2021/11/16/virals-liverpool-defender-andy-robertson-suffers-injury-scare/) has hailed Celtic ace Reo Hatate a ‘serious player’ following a star performance in the Old Firm derby.

The 24-year-old had a hand in each goal as the Hoops ran out [3-0 winners](https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/12531456/celtic-3-0-rangers) over Glasgow rivals Rangers.

Scoring [twice from long range](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxSXDVQ9OTY) and assisting the final strike, Hatate has already made himself a hero at Celtic Park.

Taking to [Twitter](https://twitter.com/andrewrobertso5/status/1488994433047670793) after the match, Scotland captain and Glasgow-born left-back Robertson was quick to praise the Japanese forward.

> Hatate a serious player 🔥🔝
>
> — Andy Robertson (@andrewrobertso5) [February 2, 2022](https://twitter.com/andrewrobertso5/status/1488994433047670793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Signed at the start of January from the J-League side Kawasaki Frontale, the [four-cap](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/reo-hatate/nationalmannschaft/spieler/496656/verein_id/53813) international teammate of Takumi Minamino has made a bright start to life in Scotland.

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s own Sadio Mane was playing a starring role as Senegal reached the Africa Cup of Nations final with a [3-1 victory](https://www.skysports.com/football/burkina-vs-senegal/report/457242) over Burkina Faso.

The 29-year-old star earned a [9.00 Sofascore rating](https://www.sofascore.com/player/sadio-mane/217704) for a performance containing one goal and one assist whilst becoming the country’s joint-highest scorer.

### READ LIVERPOOL VERDICT

Is Robertson laying the groundwork for a future transfer perhaps?

Hatate has taken to life in the Scottish Premiership like a [duck to water](https://www.sofascore.com/player/reo-hatate/891153) and whose to say that the Japanese ace can’t make the move to the Premier League next.

Mane’s exploits look sure to see the [£72million valued](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/sadio-mane/marktwertverlauf/spieler/200512#:~:text=%22Left%20Winger%22.-,With%20a%20market%20value%20of%20%C2%A372.00m%2C%20Sadio%20Man%C3%A9,players%20of%20the%20Premier%20League.) man crowned player of the tournament should Senegal be triumphant.

However, a certain Mohamed Salah may have something to say on that should the winger guide [Egypt beyond Cameroon](https://www.skysports.com/football/teams/egypt/fixtures) and to a final meeting with his Liverpool teammate.