Andy Robertson has admitted Liverpool have lost their spark in recent weeks but insists it is “not time to panic” ahead of a crucial stage of the season.
Liverpool wasted the opportunity to go five points clear of Manchester City on Monday night, drawing 1-1 with West Ham United at the London Stadium.
Why will Liverpool be hoping for an Everton win this week? Five key things to know…
- Liverpool currently lead Manchester City by three points at the top of the table, but City could jump into first place with a win over Everton on Wednesday.
- Jurgen Klopp’s side could have stretched their lead to seven points last week after City’s shock defeat at Newcastle United.
- But disappointing draws against Leicester City and West Ham have let City off the hook.
- Liverpool face a home match against Bournemouth next before a tricky trip to Manchester United.
- The Reds have dropped seven points in their last five league outings, more than they dropped in their opening 20 games (six).
After a sublime first half of the campaign, Liverpool have struggled to keep up their momentum in recent weeks, leading to suggestions of nerves.
Robertson believes fatigue is more of an issue and insists City’s title push isn’t affecting his teammates, despite their dip in form.
“It doesn’t make a difference to us. We need to get back on track to winning games and playing better football. We can’t worry about them,” Robertson said, as reported by the Guardian.
“We’re having a wee blip and we need to just try and get over the line in a couple of games. Here Divock [Origi] had a chance, and if that goes in we’re talking differently, but we’ll keep going.
“We’ll dust ourselves down. There’s still a long way to go – the run-in will be exciting but it’s time to try and enjoy it.
“I wouldn’t say nerves are showing. Did anyone say that when City dropped points against [Crystal] Palace and Leicester? I don’t think they did. It’s no different for us – people talk about pressure because we’ve not been in this position but it’s February.
Subscribe to Squawka’s Youtube channel: sqwk.at/Squawka-Sub
“Everyone needs to relax and try and enjoy the run-in. If you’re fans, or if you’re from another club, you can watch many other clubs who want to be in the position we’re in just now.
“Nerves aren’t showing in the changing room – it’s been two poor results and poor performances. It happens during a long season. We need to get back to playing the better football we can but it’s nothing to do with nerves.
“We just need to keep going, we need to keep finding a spark that’s been missing in the past two games, but it’s about taking chances at the right time and keeping clean sheets, which we’ve failed to do in the last couple.”
8 concerning stats that suggest Liverpool’s title challenge is at a risk – https://t.co/ePSRoNTgCV
By @willgeorgejourn. pic.twitter.com/QZDMoyUPet
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 6, 2019
Robertson: Credit to West Ham
West Ham produced more shots than Liverpool on Monday night, attempting 13 efforts compared to the visitors’ tally of 11.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side were aiming to avoid a fourth-straight defeat in all competitions and showed an impressive attitude throughout.
And Robertson thinks West Ham deserve credit for their performance against Liverpool, adding: “West Ham are a good team and it’s a good point here, another point, but we need to be better and quick.
“It’s not time to panic – it’s time to relax and enjoy it, and play better football because of that.
“West Ham have made it a lot harder [at the London Stadium], especially this season.
“The first time they moved in they struggled, with the transition from Upton Park, but now it feels like home and they pick up good results and they’re better here than they are away from home.
“Credit to them, they did well and deserved a point, but we weren’t at our best.”
The post Liverpool have lost their “spark” in recent weeks, admits Robertson appeared first on Squawka News.
From Squawka News http://bit.ly/2I54EvM
No comments:
Post a Comment