Robertson and Liverpool's Focus Turns to Manchester City
Today at 09:09 AM
Liverpool have secured a place in the Champions League knockouts but there's no time to celebrate with a massive league clash on Sunday.
Following Wednesday night's demolition of Real Madrid, a game more lopsided than the final 2-0 scoreline, Liverpool are officially through to the knockout rounds of the new look Champions League with three games to spare.
There's still plenty to play for with the top eight getting a pass to the Round of 16 and a second leg at home once they get there, but there's only one club that can say they're through after five league phase matchdays and that side is Liverpool.
For the players, though, the first thoughts following the final whistle on Wednesday weren't focused on the Champions League and what they'd achieved. Instead, they were on the Premier League and Manchester City on Sunday.
"As soon as the final whistle goes and you're in the changing room, all of a sudden recovery starts, preparation starts for the Man City game," left back Andy Robertson noted. "The coaches are already probably talking about it knowing them.
"But for us it's just about recovering, trying to get as much sleep as you can, and tomorrow the same. Already our minds have flipped to how important the game is on Sunday, another big game at Anfield and hopefully a similar performance."
Wednesday's victory confirms Arne Slot's Reds as Europe's in form side, top of the tables in both the Champions League and Premier League, but given recent history nobody will be taking things for granted when it comes to the title race.
Liverpool are currently eight points up on City and can make it 11 with a win on Sunday, while currently they have a nine point edge on the third-place log-jam made up of Chelsea, Arsenal, and Brighton. The gap is big, but it's still early.
A poor run by the Reds would almost certainly see at least a couple of the chasers close on them, so there's no room for complacency heading into the busy festive period. They will need to be at their best—and they'll need Anfield again on Sunday.
"We know these Champions League nights under the lights, [the supporters] always step up," Robertson added. "They always produce, and we're going to need that again Sunday. We need it in every single game, that's the thing.
"But we know they react off us, too, so it's up to us to set that tone and to help create that atmosphere and if we do that then hopefully we can have another special night."
