Andy Robertson has urged Liverpool's players to "stand up" to the growing scrutiny of their spluttering season - as he lifted the lid on how Arne Slot has reacted behind the scenes.
The Reds entertain Galatasaray in their Champions League round of 16 second leg on Wednesday aiming to overturn a 1-0 deficit from last week's meeting in Istanbul.
Liverpool were booed off following a dismal 1-1 home Premier League draw against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday that further cranked up the pressure on Slot. But Robertson has detailed how the Reds boss has retained his composure as he aims for a silver lining to the campaign.
“I don't think we really hit a bump in the road last year," he said. "Everything went probably as smoothly as you could have imagined in terms of his first season, but also in terms of our season.
"This season's been a bit more up and down, that's a fact. But he’s stayed calm, he’s obviously trying to find answers as well.
"Him and all the experienced lads are trying to put a finger on why the consistency's not been there. Everyone's trying to help him and we're all pushing in the same direction.
"But obviously the pressure is a bit bigger on all of us at the minute because the results aren't there. You have to perform, you have to get the results and when you don't get that then the scrutiny is bigger.
"He's faced a lot more scrutiny than he did last year, so have we as players. It's up to us to stand up to that. We're all good enough to be at Liverpool and it's up to us show that. If we do that, I'm sure we can turn the tide back towards the way we want it to go.”
Robertson added: "We can't give up trying, we need to keep trying to fight through it. I know time's running out, I know games are running out but we've got a chance to get into the quarter-finals of the Champions League and we're still in the FA Cup and then we have to sort out our league form.
"In terms of Champions League qualification, this club demands it. The fans demand it. We've got such a good relationship with the Champions League and this club has to be in the Champions League year in, year out."
Liverpool have been eliminated from Europe the last four times they have lost the first leg, with their only such success in almost a decade being the famous fightback in the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona in 2019, a game in which Robertson featured.
"We were 3-0 down and nobody gave us a chance," he said. "A lot of people give us a chance in this tie. You have to rely on your experience and the lads that have been in this position before and also the young lads to bring that fresh energy and that’s where you get the right balance in the squad.
"It’s important we show the best version of ourselves. And if we do that as a team, then I believe we've got enough quality within our changing room to win.
"Anfield, under the lights, our fans being in that stadium; they've been here before and they'll be here many, many times in the future as well. They always produce special nights.
"But we have to give them something to shout about. We have give them to cheer, we have something to get off their chairs and off their seats. If we can do that, then we know the Liverpool fans react off that."
