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Andrew Robertson: 'Our home form is a worry'

Jurgen Klopp's side have now lost back-to-back matches at Anfield.

Liverpool defender Andy Robertson admits their home form is "a long way off" what is expected of them.

Having gone unbeaten for almost four years at home in the league, Jurgen Klopp's side have now lost back-to-back matches at Anfield after Brighton repeated Burnley's 1-0 victory of a fortnight ago.

Liverpool have now failed to score in three consecutive home league games for the first time since October 1984 – not the form required ahead of the visit of in-form Premier League leaders Manchester City.

Liverpool defender Andy Robertson in action
Andy Robertson admits home performances have been sub-standard (Michael Regan/PA)

"In the last three games at home we have been really disappointing and we have to get back to it. We are a long way off it," Robertson told BT Sport.

"Brighton were better at pretty much everything. They were all outstanding but we have been disappointing. We are not finding the way to win."

Liverpool's form against teams in the bottom eight is well below their previous standards with just three wins and four draws from nine matches.

Both Burnley and Brighton have managed to blunt their attack at Anfield without too much trouble and Klopp admits it is a problem he has to solve quickly.

"My job is to find explanations and to work with that then. I know how much better football these boys can play," he said.

"There might be two reasons. One is they don't want to, and I think even you would agree with me that that's probably not the case. So then why didn't it work?

"These are the things we have to figure out. I was involved in these two games, so it was tough for me as well.

"We have now one day more to recover (as the City game is on Sunday). We spoke about that very often that it means the world actually to footballers and bodies in general. Hopefully we will use that."

An injury list which shows no signs of abating – goalkeeper Alisson Becker missed the match with a non-covid-related illness – has had a hugely detrimental effect on the team's performances.

The loss of all three centre-backs Virgil Van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip plus their back-up Fabinho has meant Jordan Henderson playing in defence, which removes a key driving force from midfield.

Alisson and Fabinho are expected to return at the weekend but the participation of forward Sadio Mane, who has missed the last two matches with a muscle problem, remains a doubt.

Fellow forward Diogo Jota, who has been out for two months with a knee injury, is still a number of weeks away from fitness despite beginning outdoor training this week.

Klopp admitted after the Brighton defeat his players were mentally fatigued with forwards Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino looking particularly affected.

The fact there is unlikely to be any respite for them until later this month at the earliest will also be a worry for Klopp.

"Diogo is – I don't know exactly – a couple of weeks, two, three, four. I'm not sure," said the manager.

"And Sadio we will see. He might be available for the weekend, I don't know. He didn't train with the team (Wednesday). We will see."

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool20145148202847
2Arsenal21127241192243
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest21125430201041
4Newcastle UnitedNewcastle21115537221538
5Chelsea21107441261537
6Manchester CityMan City2110563829935
7Aston Villa2110563132-135
8Bournemouth219753225734
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2171043229331
10Fulham217953230230
11Brentford218494037328
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd217592629-326
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham217592741-1426
14Tottenham HotspurSpurs21731143321124
15Crystal Palace215972328-524
16Everton203891526-1117
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2144133148-1716
18Ipswich TownIpswich2137112037-1716
19Leicester CityLeicester2135132346-2314
20Southampton2113171347-346


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