Always bet on yourself… unless you’re playing against Mohamed Salah.
Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson found that out the hard way, when a wager with friends turned into an expensive night out.
“We played Liverpool in the first game of the season two years ago. We drew 2-2,” Robinson told The Athletic, recalling his experience in 2022.
“I remember saying to my friends, who are all big Liverpool fans and came down because it was around my birthday, ‘Lads, if Salah scores or gets an assist this game, I’ll pay for dinner tonight.’ so I put a bit of added pressure on myself.
“And he did [score], annoyingly.”
While Robinson learned a lesson the hard way that day, he also shared a memorable moment with Salah as the match unfolded.
“I remember him saying to me midway through the game, ‘How old are you?’. So he didn’t really know who I was. I must have been 24, 25,” the USMNT star explained.
“He just nodded and carried on with the game. Then, after the game, I asked for his shirt, so we swapped shirts and we were just chatting and he was like, ‘You were the best player this game, keep up what you’re doing’. That was very nice of him.”
Since that battle with Salah, Robinson has pushed on and become one of the Premier League’s best full-backs.
He provided six assists last season – a number that was bettered by just three defenders – Pedro Porro, Vladimir Coufal and Kieran Trippier.
That impressive haul helped Robinson scoop a personal accolade and he was named Fulham’s Player of the Season for the 2023-24 campaign.
He started 37 out of his club’s 38 Premier League games last time out, and has continued in a similar vain this season, featuring in each league fixture so far.
2
Fulham have made a strong start to the season and are eighth in the table as players head off for international duty.
Robinson will expect a busy week away with the USMNT, where former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino will take charge of the nation for the first time.
The US take on Panama in a friendly match on Saturday night and last week, Robinson revealed that he has already had an unexpected encounter with his new national team manager.
“Funnily enough, I bumped into him out for dinner the other day,” Robinson recalled.
“We had a team meal in London and he just happened to be in there. I was sat next to Harrison Reed, who used to play for him at Southampton, so he went over to speak to him and I just went over and said hello.
“I was chatting to him and it seems like he’s really excited about it [coaching the USMNT].”
Pochettino’s appointment followed the decision to sack Gregg Berhalter earlier this year, after a dismal Copa America showing, where the USMNT were eliminated in the group stage.
Free Bet Offers
Check out all the best betting offers available from our partners
Claim Free Bets here
18+ gambleaware.org T&Cs Apply
