What Liverpool dressing room 'never said' about Man City, Arsenal and Premier League title race

Those wanting an insight into the mindset of Liverpool's dressing room should consider the reaction of Andy Robertson shortly after the Reds had steadied their Premier League title tilt with a victory at Fulham on Sunday.

"We’re third favourites to outside people," says the left-back. "But I think a lot of Liverpool fans would have taken this position at the start of the season. We have to maybe remind ourselves of that."

Nothing wrong with a little perspective amid the whirlwind of a championship race that sees the Reds, with just five matches remaining, behind leaders Arsenal on goal difference with Manchester City a further point adrift, albeit with a game in hand.

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For a squad in transition that underwent a radical midfield overhaul last summer, few expected an instant championship challenge. But when asked if Liverpool could possess an edge on last season's two main rivals due to their surprise position as title contenders, Robertson betrayed the real feeling among Jurgen Klopp's squad.

"Oh, I never said we didn't expect that!" comes the swift retort. "Just that Liverpool fans maybe didn’t. But we believed in our squad at the start of this season. We knew it was a kind of restart, the gaffer was calling it 2.0 and things like that. We believed in the ability coming into the squad and the ability that was already there.

"We believe in ourselves, of course we do. But we’re in a position that we are happy to be in, in the title race, this late on. But at the end of the day, there will be two disappointed teams. We have to do everything we can to try and put us in a position where we are not one of them.

"Obviously it’s not our hands. We’re up against two extremely good teams as well. We're into the sprinting part of the season. A full season is a marathon but you do get to a sprint finish. You can't rely on other teams to drop points. You have to focus on what you're doing. Arsenal and Man City will be doing the exact same thing.

"And like I said, I think Liverpool fans would have bitten your hand off to be involved in that at the start of the season. Now it's up to us to try and keep pushing and see where it ends up."

The 3-1 triumph at Craven Cottage prevented self-doubt creeping into the Reds after a needless draw at Manchester United was followed by a damaging home reverse to Crystal Palace. Strikes from Ryan Gravenberch and Diogo Jota, after Trent Alexander-Arnold's sumptuous free-kick opener, were Liverpool's first from open play in more than four games.

"We never had doubt in our ability," says Robertson. "But the last couple of games we've struggled and it was important that we put it right. We scored three really good goals. It could have been more, we were quite free-flowing going forward. That's pleasing.

"And defensively we looked fairly strong. Obviously, conceding the goal is a frustration but other than that I can't really remember too many chances from Fulham's point of view. It’s never an easy place to come. I think we've always kind of struggled here and I think this was probably one of our best performances here.

"In the second half we were excellent. Probably the last 15 minutes in the first half we just kind of dropped a wee bit too deep, and they punished us. But second half we were definitely dominant, on top, and luckily we were clinical in front of goal."

Cody Gakpo built on his impressive performance up front in Thursday's Europa League win at Atalanta with a fine showing against Fulham, where he forged a partnership with Robertson and Gravenberch down the left-hand side for Liverpool.

"Cody was excellent in front of me, he mixed it up and went inside and went outside," says Robertson. "Ryan was excellent as well. I thought us three on the left worked well together, but also on the right-hand side worked really well together and through the middle. So it was a complete performance. It was good all around.

"The last couple of games (before the win in Atalanta) were disappointing for our standards. But you have to move on quick. You can't dwell on it. Sunday was a good start, but we're going into a big week for us. This is only the start. We have to keep pushing."

That week continues on Wednesday with the third of four away games in 10 days and a visit to neighbours Everton, who eased relegation fears with a controversial victory over struggling Nottingham Forest on Sunday. Liverpool have won only once across Stanley Park under Klopp, but are unbeaten there since October 2010.

"It’s always difficult going to Goodison," says Robertson. "They got a good result on Sunday so they will be full of confidence. We've never had an easy game at Goodison and we have to be up to the fight, which we will be.. But we have to believe in ourselves. We have to believe in our ability and if we play to the levels we did at Fulham, then I believe we can cause some problems."