Andy Robertson: Liverpool must return to the cruelty of last season | Football news

Liverpool must regain their ruthless form from last season and score more points away from home if they are to stay the course to retain the Premier League title, says Andy Robertson.

Goal difference alone separates second-ranked Manchester United’s league leaders, who have been on a 10-game unbeaten streak, winning eight of them to bring their total to 33 points after 16 games this season.

Liverpool have won just one of their last seven away games, with lower half teams West Brom, Fulham, Brighton, and most recently Newcastle all tied against the Premier League champions in recent weeks.

“For the last two years or even three years, and without disrespecting those clubs, but last season we would have won those games,” Robertson said before the match. Monday night football trip to Southampton.

“And if you add two points to each of those games, the league table looks very different and we are very happy, but you know, this season is going to be unique. I think there are seven or eight teams.” – Once the games have been played in hand, we are three points behind us at the top, and it is going to be a unique season as I said.

“I think I can comfortably say that it’s not going to be 97 or 98 points that are going to win the league this season, it will probably be in the 80s because it’s that tight and everyone is taking points away from each other. We need to stay in the race, and that’s what we’ve done so far.

“Of course the last two games have been disappointing, especially Newcastle [which ended 0-0]. We could probably have played all night the number of chances we had I think [Newcastle goalkeeper] Karl Darlow would have kept each of them out of his game. Sometimes you get games like that. Fortunately, we haven’t had too many like that in recent years, but we did have them the other night.

“It’s only now that we have to start in 2021. We need to go to a series of games where we win. Of course, we need to score more points away and keep racking up maximum points at home, and let’s see where we finish.” above. But it is a unique season. Hopefully we finish at the top. “

‘I feel a bit guilty, 2020 has been hard for everyone’

Robertson is also eager to see a return to some kind of normalcy in 2021 after a year of mixed emotions for the winger.

The Scotsman was the captain of his country for qualification for the European Championships next summer, his first appearance in a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup in France, and also helped Liverpool finish their quest for a first championship title. the Premier League.

Despite his epic triumphs on the court in 2020, Robertson is well aware of the misery that the continuing impact of the coronavirus pandemic has brought to the lives of so many.

He said: “One of the main things [when you are looking back on last year] Do you feel a little guilty, because 2020 will always be a year that I will remember with good memories and a smile on my face, because I finished two very long waits, for an important tournament for my country and with me being captain it was incredible, and then finishing the 30 years of waiting for the title of this club was so special for me.

“But I was also able to spend time with my family, and I have two young children. During the confinement, I made sure to make the most of that and everything that goes with it.

“But when you look at it, many people have lost their lives, many people may have lost their jobs and that’s where the blame comes in, because this year has been difficult for everyone. It is definitely a year that I see. Going back to where I learned a lot, I won a lot, but it is also a year in which our whole life changed, and that is something I will never forget.

“I just hope that in 2021 we can go back to some kind of normalcy and we can get back to our normal life, because I think if people didn’t appreciate their lives before, they certainly do after this pandemic. I think everyone would love to get back to normal. now “.

Robertson is hungry for more titles after the successes of the Premier League, Club World Cup and Champions League in the last 18 months and says Liverpool can also look forward to hosting central defenders Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez this year.

“For 2021 as a whole, I hope it ends successfully,” he said.

“The last two years we have been lucky to get a trophy and of course we want to fight for more.

“In the summer, I will have the privilege of taking my country out, for the first time [any Scotland captain has done that in 23 years] so in 2021 there is much to look forward to. We know hard work and everything it takes to win any kind of trophy and we are determined to do it.

“Obviously we’ll get Virg back in 2021 at some point. I’m not sure it’s sometime this season but he will be back and it’s been great to have him and Joe Gomez around the players and get to see them. They also put a smile on their faces. their faces. Hopefully those kids and all the injured kids are back on the field very soon. “

Klopp: Van Dijk still has ‘a long way to go’

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says Van Dijk is making progress in his recovery from a knee injury, but admits the defender still has “a long way to go” in his rehabilitation.

The Dutch international underwent surgery after sustaining a ligament injury in the Merseyside derby in October, but posted an update on social media last week that showed him stepping up his recovery with a session on an exercise bike.

Klopp, who also has no defenders Joel Matip and Joe Gomez, is happy to see Van Dijk progress, but admitted that the nature of the 29-year-old’s injury means he still has work to do in his recovery.

“Well, very well. I have no problem talking about Virgil van Dijk. He is very good, but there is still a long way to go, that’s this kind of injury,” Klopp said.

“I’m glad when I watch these videos, to be honest, because it just shows that he is making good progress. But it will still take a long time, that’s right. I’d like to say something else, but these are the facts, unfortunately.”

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