Klopp given a Ruud awakening

But if Liverpool fail to dethrone champions Manchester City, then Robbo will take it on the chin.

Failing to be crowned English champions after a 29-year wait will be hard to swallow for boss Jurgen Klopp, the players and fans.

But Robertson will retain a sense of perspective after experiencing the other side of life when relegation with Hull City drove him to the depths of despair.

Wages cut, jobs lost – that is the reality when football goes wrong.

“We have spoken about that at meetings,” said Robertson, 24.

“But trust me it’s a much nicer feeling to be going for a title than fighting relegation.

“I have experienced it twice and – especially the first time – I had to deal with the consequences. We went down to the Championship and I saw people lose their jobs.

“And us getting 50 per cent wage reductions and having to go down a league, ultimately failing the fans and everyone connected with the club.

“That pressure is a different pressure. It is not a nice one. Thankfully, this is an enjoyable pressure, going for a title, for trophies and medals, bragging rights and everything.

“So this is a lot easier and, of course, this club is a lot bigger than Hull, without being disrespectful.

“But this pressure is a lot easier to deal with than the one of relegation.”

Between today’s derby at Goodison Park and the end of the season, Robertson will give every last drop of sweat and blood to drive Liverpool towards fulfilling the ultimate dream.

The Glasgow-born defender is loving life at Anfield and can almost imagine his fingers touching the Premier League trophy.

“If we do fall short – or Manchester City fall short – you want to look back at the end of the season and know you have given absolutely everything, even if that is not the easiest thing,” he said.

“Then, at the end of the day, the best team will have won. Some teams can get lucky in cup competitions but you don’t get lucky in a 38-game league season.

“It’s as simple as that – there are too many games to get lucky. Whoever wins deserves it.

“If we don’t and we do fall short but have given everything it

are 28 Liverpool teams who have failed behind us and we need to forget about that.

“We are a newish team. We’ve made a lot of signings and we are quite a young team.

“Look, it would be better to do it the first chance we have but we’re right in the title race and it’ll go right to the end.

“As long as we give 100 per cent in every game and we have no regrets, at least we can look back and say we gave it our all. The lads are looking RUUD GULLIT has savaged Liverpool for their display at Manchester United – and claimed they looked anything but champions.

Jurgen Klopp and his men head into another crucial game in the Merseyside derby at Everton today. And despite their thumping midweek win against Watford, Gullit believes Liverpool missed a golden chance to take a huge step towards the title at Old Trafford a week ago.

“If there was one moment to make a clear aim for the title and to make an impact on both Manchester clubs, it was at Old Trafford,” forward to every game. Maybe, if we go into the last game needing to win, that week might be a bit more pressure.

“But now we still have a quarter of the season to go and we are enjoying the chase. Whether it’s enough we will find out.”

Robertson, at some stage, will be delighted to be reunited with Everton boss Marco Silva, his old manager at Hull.

The defender said: “He was big for me. He was a fantastic manager and is someone I always think kindly of. But now, of course, he’s at the local rivals.

“After the last game, I had a short word with him and just said thanks for what he had done for me.

“But it’s the same when you play against your friends – you put it to one side.

“You’re focused on the game and getting the three points. Everton are at home, will have the advantage of the fans. But it’s up to us to play better than we did in the previous derby at Anfield.

“Hopefully, our quality shines through and we can get the result we need.”

Meanwhile, Reds forward Sadio Mane says he is happy to continue in his central role if the team need him to after scoring twice in Wednesday’s 5-0 victory over Watford.

Filling in for injured striker Roberto Firmino, Mane, 26, headed in from close range in the first half before adding to his tally with a cheeky back-heel effort.

Firmino has shaken off an ankle injury and could return for the Merseyside derby today.

“I was lucky to score two but honestly I don’t mind,” Mane said. “I’m happy to play left or right side but if the team or the coach needs me as a striker I’ll try again. To be honest I was surprised – I never played there before, I was nervous.”

Liverpool beat Everton 1-0 when the teams played earlier this season and Mane is well aware of the importance of the game in the title race.

“Of course, it is one of the more important derbies because we know what we want this season,” he said. said Gullit. “United as a team was wounded anyway, and three more injuries made the wounds even bigger. And still, Liverpool did not have a go at them.

“They let a massive chance go. And to me it proved that Liverpool are not there yet at the very top level.”

With just 10 games left to go in the title race with Manchester City, Gullit, 56 (left) reckons that is a concern for Kop fans. “What I saw Man United was worrying. No pressing, no creativity and no energy,” he said. STEVE BATES