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Andy Robertson insists Jurgen Klopp’s relentless pursuit of perfection will help ensure Liverpool retain their hunger during the run-in.

The Reds boss told his players to “stay angry, don’t go soft” following the 4-1 thrashing of West Ham and it’s a message which has been repeated on the training field ahead of Saturday’s visit of Newcastle.

Liverpool sit third in the Premier League and are on the brink of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Champions League having netted 103 goals already this season. They are in a rich vein of form but the Scottish left-back says they can still raise the bar.

“The manager always wants you to keep striving for more,” Robertson told the ECHO.

“Even when we play five v five or 11 v 11 in training, he always says ‘stay angry’. It doesn’t matter whether you are 4-0 up.

“It will stand you in good stead for those games which are tighter, when it’s 0-0 and you need a big last 10 minutes. If we’re angry at ourselves, angry at an opponent, it can turn one point into three or none into one.

“It’s important for us to stay angry, both defensively and going forward. Just now we’re doing a good job of taking chances at the right time and our focus has been really good.

“The West Ham goal was a wee bit frustrating as it came so soon after we went 3-0 up. There was a split second where we switched off and that’s something to learn from. There’s still a long way to go this season and a lot still to achieve.”

(Image: (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images))

Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle side are battling for Premier League survival and find themselves just two points above the drop zone.

Robertson, who found himself in the same situation with Hull last term, believes that makes them dangerous opponents.

“I know probably more so than the other lads that at this stage of the season those clubs down near the bottom are fighting for their lives,” he said.

“It’s people’s careers. If you go down, you could be facing a wage cut. Everyone wants to stay in the big league with all its glory.

“The Swansea game when we lost 1-0 was the perfect example of that. They fought hard and took the chance they got. Newcastle will approach it the same way.

“We need to be 100%. We have to fight for every battle and then hopefully our quality will shine through.”

Liverpool’s unbeaten home record in the Premier League stretches back 11 months and Robertson knows extending that run through until May is key to achieving their objectives.

With 10 league games to go, the Reds are four points clear of fifth placed Chelsea.

“You always want to make your home ground a fortress,” Robertson said.

“You don’t want opponents to enjoy going there. Our home record has been good this season and every win breeds confidence. We need to keep building momentum.

(Image: James Maloney)

“It’s so tight for the top four and all the teams still have to play each other. The following weekend we play Man United.

“I think it’s going to go right to the wire but we have to focus on ourselves. We can’t let it slip. With Newcastle, Porto and then Man United, it’s a massive week for us.”