Robertson praises Liverpool's back-up players, who have played their part in keeping them in the title race
Sunday 5 May 2019 08:59, UK
Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson admits he does not expect title rivals Manchester City to slip up against Leicester, but says the Reds have done all they can to keep up the pressure on the defending champions.
Substitute Divock Origi scored an 86th-minute winner at Newcastle on Saturday night as Liverpool won 3-2 to move back to the top of the table, two points ahead of City, who play Leicester at the Etihad on Monday Night Football, live on Sky Sports.
Despite an extraordinary season that has seen Liverpool and Man City push each other every step of the way, Jurgen Klopp's side may become the first team to record 97 points and still not win the title, although Robertson insists they can feel proud having given their all.
"The pressure's on both of us, it's been a hell of a title race. We knew all we could do was take it to the last game and luckily we've done that," the Scotland captain told Sky Sports News.
"If we get to 97 points and don't win the league, then of course we'll be gutted but we can't have done much more. We've come up against a class team but I'm sure they'll say the same about us.
"We've put the pressure back on Manchester City but they've had eight days to prepare for Leicester, so I'm sure they'll be ready.
"We won't expect anything but we can always hope."
Robertson also praised their ability to stay calm under pressure, as well as the contribution made this season by players who are not regular starters, after substitutes Xherdan Shaqiri and Origi combined to score the winner at Newcastle.
"We've been here before. When you look back over the season, we've scored a lot of late goals. That's what we do, we stay calm," added Robertson.
"We know we're fit and we know we're strong and that's why we keep going. Luckily, Divock popped up again with a lovely header.
"That's two [late headers] now, that one and Everton [in December]. They're massive goals and that's what squads are all about.
"They may not have played as much as they'd like, but Shaqiri comes on and sets the goal up, Divock comes on and scores the goal, [Daniel] Sturridge, what a shift he's put in over the 90 minutes when he's not played a lot.
"Credit to all those lads that haven't played a lot because they've kept us going all season, the lads that have played all the time, and that's why we've got a winning formula just now."