Following a detrimental home defeat to Crystal Palace, Andy Robertson didn’t mince words about Liverpool’s struggling attackers.
Eberechi Eze’s early goal set the tone, with both teams squandering numerous clear-cut chances throughout the match.
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Despite being consistently breached by Palace’s attacks, Liverpool also had plenty of opportunities to equalize.
However, Darwin Nunez’s glaring miss from close range epitomized their wastefulness, alongside Mo Salah and Diogo Jota failing to capitalize when presented with golden opportunities.
Robertson pulled no punches afterwards, saying: “We’re struggling to keep clean sheets right now but we’re still creating opportunities and when you do that, you have to take them, it’s as simple as that. The boys in front of goal have to do better.”
The Scottish international acknowledged the need for defensive improvements but emphasized that despite a dismal first-half performance, the hosts still had the potential to salvage a result.
“Second half we had enough chances to win two or three games,” he continued. “When you’re in a title race you have to be clinical and we weren’t that today.”
Robertson cited the recent domestic break as a turning point, he said: “Since we came back from international duty we’ve not been as clinical in front of goal. We’re obviously off the boil in front of goal and that’s clear.
“We’ve had two games, one in the Europa League and one in the Premier League, and no goals at Anfield which is very, very rare, and we’ve been punished for it. But we have to move on and that’s the only thing we can do now.”
The loss puts the Reds two points behind the new leaders Manchester City, though Arsenal could leapfrog them by a point if they secure a victory against Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon.
The tension of the title race was evident among the home crowd, with frustration dominating the atmosphere for much of the 90 minutes.
But the left-back refused to blame fans. He added: “I thought the crowd were quite anxious today and rightly so the way we were passing the ball. We kept giving it away. I don’t know if players maybe reacted off that, those who aren’t as experienced when it comes to a title race.
“But we’re all quality players that’s why we are at Liverpool football club – and we have to deal with that pressure. Today, in the first half, we didn’t deal with that pressure very well.”
