Andy Robertson has sent a message to his Liverpool ‘doubters’.
Robertson reclaimed a starring role for Saturday’s win over Aston Villa which saw Arne Slot’s side open up a five-point gap in the Premier League title race.
The Scotland captain had been demoted to the substitutes’ bench for the previous two games as understudy Kostas Tsimikas earned an extended run.
Doubts emerged about Robertson’s long-term prospects at Anfield as a result of an uncharacteristically poor start to the new season by his high standards.
But the 30-year-old insists that he welcomes the challenge of proving his critics wrong following a return to form against the Villans last weekend.
“The last couple of games I’ve been on the bench and I got doubters for the first time in a long time, the first time at this club,” admitted Robertson.
“But it suits me in this position. I am trying to prove people wrong again. I tried to do that [against Villa].
“Look, I am a lot older and a lot wiser now than when I came in.
“When I first came in I was only 23, first time playing for a big club. I have been here for seven years and won everything, played in a lot of big games.
“I am a lot more experienced and a lot better at switching off from everything like overreactions and things like that.
“Probably a bad 45 minutes of football against Arsenal, it was not great. I think pretty much everyone had written me off after that!
“That’s football and that’s what happens these days. People can write me off all they want. But I will always try to keep working, keep improving.
“I have tried to do that and hopefully I have shown that [again].”
Robertson also revealed that he and Slot have held constructive talks since the Dutchman succeeded Jurgen Klopp ahead of the new campaign.
He added: “I think the manager is very open and honest, we have spoken quite a few times and it has always been good conversations.
“There is mutual respect between both of us even if we don’t agree with the team line-ups! It happened with Jurgen, it has happened with Scotland – and I always have respect for the manager.
“He knows my experience in the changing room and how I try to help everyone else – and that won’t stop. But I do like playing!
“I like starting and being on the pitch but when I’m not I try to be as professional as I can and just try to do my talking on the training pitch and wait for my chance.”