Defender Joe Gomez says “it does hurt” to hear the Liverpool crowd voice their frustrations but they are “entitled” to do so after a disappointing campaign.
Not for the first time this season, there were loud boos at full-time at Anfield on Saturday after the Reds’ 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
“We’ve all said on record a few times this year that we know this is not where we want to be and the position we want to be in,” said Gomez. “We get it, we understand it.
“I guess it just is a summary of our year and it’s a reaction to the whole year, and that’s fair enough.
“The fans pay their hard-earned money to come and watch us and they’re entitled to show their frustration, in the same way they cheer us.”
On whether he finds it hurtful, he added: “We feel it. It’s the last thing we want.
“For us older boys who have experienced so many good times here it does hurt. If it didn’t, then you shouldn’t still be here. We want to make it right.”
Saturday’s draw means Liverpool have now dropped nine points from winning positions in Premier League home games this season, their most at Anfield in a single campaign since 2015-16 (14).
“The main thing is that we’re a team and we understand that in the dressing room we don’t come in after a result like that without disappointment,” Gomez said.
“There’s frustrations and there’s been plenty of voices and discussions and meetings from different people – staff and players.
“The black and white thing now is that we need Champions League football. That’s the objective.
“Then we dust ourselves off and we go again and go into the [next] year and have a good start.”