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Andrew Robertson has said Liverpool are already benefitting from the use of their new specialist throw-in coach Thomas Gronnemark. Gronnemark, the world-record holder for the longest throw-in, joined Liverpool on a part-time basis this summer to help improve the side's threat and ball retention from throw-ins. The appointment of the Dane is the latest example of manager Jurgen Klopp's desire to have as many specialists as realistically possible taking up positions at Liverpool. "We are switched on when it comes to throw-ins -- everyone is in better positions that we are finding easier, and the lads' techniques have got better," Robertson said. "We all got measured and I was one of the worst, but since the day he came in until now I think I've gained about six metres. "We have all bought into it and we are all improving and are a lot more accurate. I think it is a positive thing and it has definitely worked for us. "The manager has probably looked back on last season and it was a very positive one for us, getting to the final of the Champions League and finishing in the top four. "But the one negative he saw was that we surrendered possession when we had throw-ins. "It is effectively like a pass. He looked at it and thought: 'How am I going to change this?' He brought this guy in and already in the first four games we have been a lot better at it. "It is the small gains that can make big differences." Meanwhile, Naby Keita has said that Xabi Alonso is toughest opponent he has faced in his career to date. Keita faced the former Liverpool midfielder on two occasions in the Bundesliga during his time at RB Leipzig. "When I used to play against Bayern [Munich], Xabi Alonso always used to give me a really hard time," Keita told Liverpool's website. "He was so experienced, he made me suffer. The way he'd keep switching play just meant that you could never stop running. He was very intelligent."
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