Robertson on Liverpool’s Man City hurt, Utd recovery and why he has been annoyed

Speaking to the ECHO, Andy Robertson admits the pain of a landmark league season failing to yield tangible reward has proven a driving force this campaign.

“Our total of 97 points wins 95% of the Premier Leagues in previous years,” says the left-back. “Unfortunately we were in the year where it wasn't enough.

“For us, that still hurts, missing out after such a fantastic season. It was eased by winning the Champions League and we can look back and say it was a successful season.

“Without the Champions League, though, we couldn't. It would have been a very long summer.

“We know how important every single game is because every point and every win and last-minute winner and clean sheet last season was so important. We fell short but pushed Man City all the way.”

Robertson adds: “This season, we have got a nice lead just now, but we know if we drop points then the two teams behind us will be ready to pounce.

“We just need to keep them at arm's length, and if we keep doing that then we keep that gap. That has to be our aim.

“We know it's going to be tough and realistically games are going to get tougher, and if we do drop points then it's all about bouncing back. We have done that so far.

“Against Manchester United we drew and recovered straight away and have gone on a good run of winning games. Returning from Qatar, we have to pick up where we left off.”

One welcome bonus from Liverpool's win in Doha at the weekend was a clean sheet, particularly with the game having gone into extra time.

It was the Reds fourth shut-out in five games having gone 13 matches without one, a situation that Robertson admits was beginning to affect the defence.

“The games were getting won, and first and foremost that's what we are there to do,” says the Scotland international. “Some games we were winning 3-1 and 4-1.

“But as a defender it did hurt. Of course, when you walk off and you win 3-0 it always feels better than when you win 4-1. Same margin, but it always feels that bit nicer.

“As defenders, our bread and butter is clean sheets. We want to keep clean sheets all the time, and when that wasn't happening it was something that was in the back of our minds, annoying us a little.

“It's good we've started to keep clean sheets again, and hopefully we can build on that because if you keep clean sheets then at least you can't lose.”

Among those run of clean sheets was a 2-0 triumph at Red Bull Salzburg earlier this month that earned passage to the Champions League knockout stages and a last 16 clash against Atletico Madrid.

February's away leg represents a swift return to the Wanda Metropolitano, where Liverpool won their sixth European Cup in June by beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0.

“It will be amazing going back so soon to the stadium where we wrote ourselves in Liverpool's history,” says Robertson.

“But we know we are over there to do a job. It's not a friendly or whatever where you can take it all in.

“We're over there to try and get through to the last eight, and we know how good a team Diego Simeone has got there, we know their squad is full of quality and how tough it's going to be.

“We will need to be fully focused. But it will be nice to go back to where it all happened. That stadium will always have special memories for us.”

Memories Liverpool are hoping are added to in the coming weeks and months.