Andy Robertson has almost been ever-present for Liverpool since joining the English Premier League giants from Hull City in July 2017.
The Scotland national team captain has played 30 games or more in each of his seven seasons at Liverpool, boasting the UEFA Champions League and Premier League title among his achievements.
But since Jurgen Klopp's departure from Anfield last summer, new manager Arne Slot has opted to use Robertson more sporadically. Although, he’s in the starting line-up for the huge league clash with Bournemouth today [February 2].
The 30-year-old defender is competing with Konstantinos Tsimikas for the Liverpool left-back berth, and now his long-term future has been subject to scrutiny from supporters and pundits alike.
"I think a lot has changed [under Slot]," Robertson admitted during an interview with Sky Sports.
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"The position we have to play, the things we have to do in games, the different positions that we have to pick up.
"But I've enjoyed it under the new manager. A lot has probably been spoke about me this season which is something that I maybe haven't quite experienced in my time here. It's in one way pleasing because I've had seven years of kinda going under the radar.
"Now this season there's been a bit more spotlight on me and things like that.
"It's part and parcel of football. I've seen it happen to players before. It will happen in the future, and obviously it's my turn this now.
"I just need to keep my head down. I need to keep working hard. The manager is helping us all the time and I believe that I'm in a good moment just now, which maybe isn't getting any recognition.
"Sometimes when you make one mistake people jump on it and you just have to try and prove them wrong.
"I'm still trying to be better, but in games I'm taking confidence from things, the Ipswich game was good for me, and hopefully I can continue that."
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- Scotland captain sees his Liverpool role change under new manager
Asked if the backlash that followed an unfortunate red card against Fulham last year hurt him, Robertson replied: "I think I've been in the game long enough where it doesn't hurt me anymore.
"But the fact is that I've been the starting left-back for Liverpool for eight years. I'm very proud of that because it's not easy to achieve that at a club of this size when they can go out and sign anyone really in the world.
"I want to still be the starting left-back. But you've got to take it on the chin. If people criticise me then so be it.
“I do believe that football is getting a bit like that where they try and find scapegoats and stuff like that. Maybe it's my turn this now. If it's my turn at the moment then it's taking the spotlight off of other players.
"I also think that I've made a couple of mistakes that have probably been unlike me in certain situations like the Fulham sending off.
"Obviously that wasn't like me then people look at maybe a bigger issue that's not there and they try and find it.
"There's so many voices in football, we are all used to it, and it's important that we try and help the young lads if it happens to them as well."
