And what we had to do was to follow his standard on the field," said Johnston.
Johnston described the dressing room environment as an intense space where honest assessments were highly valued by the players.
"Some brutal truths were told [in the dressing room], and these were days when truth and valour were respected.
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But his effort, his energy to do the right thing by the club, was 10 out of 10," said Johnston.
Current Liverpool defender Andy Robertson discussed the historic connection of Scottish players at Anfield during a BBC interview with Dalglish and his daughter, Kelly Cates.
"When I first signed, all the names were thrown at me," said Robertson.
Robertson recognized that Liverpool fans traditionally associate players from Scotland with competitive success and high work rates. "Your dad, Alan Hansen and [Graeme] Souness...
I know the Liverpool fans do love a Scottish player in their team.
And I know usually if there's a Scottish player, it brings a bit of success as well," said Robertson.
Dalglish praised Robertson's nine-year tenure at the club before lightheartedly commenting on the defender's proximity to his national appearance record.
"I'm just a wee bit upset with the number of caps you've got with Scotland," said Dalglish.
Dalglish jokingly suggested a timeline for the national team captain's international retirement plan. "And I think you should retire after the World Cup!"
said Dalglish.
Robertson reflected on how the Liverpool squad had to manage their professional responsibilities following the sudden death of teammate Diogo Jota in July 2025.
