Andy Robertson says criticism of Liverpool’s form is justified and has urged his team-mates to avoid social media, but believes better times will return.
Liverpool lost 3-0 at home to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, their sixth defeat in seven league games, and the defending champions dropped to 11th place, dropping to the bottom of the table for the first time in more than a decade.
Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher described the Reds as a “disruption” on Monday Night Football, with Arne Slott under pressure after the club spent around £450m on new signings in the summer.
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Premier League highlights of Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest
Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League game against PSV, Arne Slott also said he felt guilty over his team’s “ridiculous” and “unbelievable” poor performance this season.
Liverpool defender Robertson admitted it was a “very difficult” situation and he was far below expectations.
“The standards for this football club have been set over many, many years, and when you fall below that, the criticism gets higher and higher,” he told Sky Sports’ One on One podcast.
“I have no problem with the criticism that is being leveled at us at the moment, which is justified given the position we are in and the results we have had so far, but it is up to us to come together from now on.”
“It’s up to us to try to give the best version of ourselves and if we do that, there is enough quality in the team and we will get better results.
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Liverpool head coach Arne Slott says he feels the Reds’ season so far has been almost ridiculous compared to last year’s title-winning season.
“Right now, it’s important that people don’t lose faith and confidence in their abilities and it’s important that we all stick together within the training ground.
“And if we can do that, we have the best chance of getting out of this situation. But obviously we need to start showing consistency in our work again. That was the question.”
Asked if players had lost confidence or belief, Robertson said: “That’s possible. You’d have to ask the individual about that, but it’s up to the experienced players to make sure that doesn’t happen, because you don’t become a world-class player overnight, but you don’t become a bad player overnight either.
“I think it’s always been that way. One game you’re the best player in the world. The next game you’re on the bench and you’re the worst player in the world. And that’s the world we live in.”
“So it’s important that young people don’t use too much social media, don’t read too much or listen to too much music, and we try to stay within our own bubbles.
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Jamie Carragher considers the issues facing Arne Slott but says only Liverpool’s head coach can solve them
“That’s what the experienced players here, the older players have done so well over the years, and it’s important now more than ever that we all do that, because I still believe in this team.
“I still believe in all the players in this dressing room and I still believe that good times will come again. But we need to show it and we need to show it sooner rather than later because it has been too long for me to be at Liverpool.
“The league position is not good, so the only way is to play better and work harder. And if we do that, then hopefully we can start moving up the table again.”
Liverpool supporters left Anfield early after the defeat to Forest, a rarity on Merseyside, but Robertson was not displeased.
“Since I’ve been here, I probably haven’t experienced much of that, so I’ve been very lucky,” Robertson added.
“But obviously on Saturday most people left at the final whistle and I don’t blame them in the slightest. To be three points down at home to Nottingham Forest is unacceptable.”
“We have no problem with them leaving, but the important thing is whether they stick with us because we know what Anfield can do at its best. And that’s when the players and the fans are at their best.”
“And we know we’re substandard. So the fans are substandard because we’re not giving them anything to shout about. We’ve got to give them something to shout about.”
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