'Mane, Salah & Firmino want clean sheets' - Shutouts as important as goals, says Robertson

Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino take as much joy from clean sheets as Liverpool’s defensive unit, says Andy Robertson.

Having struggled to keep opponents out early in the 2019-20 campaign , Jurgen Klopp’s side have become watertight once more.

That bodes ominously for their Premier League and European rivals, with Liverpool continuing to sweep aside all before them.

Four successive clean sheets have been secured across all competitions and five in a row when it comes to top-flight outings.

Robertson, as a full-back, is taking great pride in that record, but he is not the only one.

The Scotland international has told the Reds’ official website : “It’s so important. And you might not think it, but it’s so important to Bobby, Sadio and Mo [as well], they really like us keeping clean sheets.

“As a whole squad and club, if you keep clean sheets, you’ll never get beat. Maybe 38 0-0 draws aren’t good over the whole season! But it’s a great basis and that’s five on the bounce.

“Even though we were winning games a lot, we said about our defence – and we just kept on going and knew the clean sheets would come. So, delighted to get five on the bounce but it’s about keeping that going now.”

Liverpool have restored their 13-point lead at the top of the Premier League on the back of a 2-0 win over Sheffield United and Robertson believes they will get even stronger once a number of senior stars shake off knocks.

He added: “The young lads are on the bench. In terms of our injury list, we lost Naby [Keita] in the warm-up [against the Blades], you’ve got Fabinho, Dejan [Lovren], Joel [Matip], Chambo [Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain], Clyney [Nathaniel Clyne]. If those players are available, it’s a hell of a squad.

“The quicker we get them back, the better because it’ll be best for our squad – but the young lads have been amazing in training and full of enthusiasm. That’s what you need, they push us all on.”

Liverpool are expected to shuffle their pack again on Sunday when they take in an FA Cup third round derby date with Everton .