Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt is unsurprised by criticism of the club this season due to their poor league placing.
Reds forward accepts club have not done the business
Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt is unsurprised by criticism of the club this season due to their poor league placing.
It has been over 20 years since the Reds were crowned English champions and Saturday's top-flight results means they are eighth in table.
Liverpool can leapfrog rivals Everton with at least a point in Sunday's trip to Newcastle, although their wait to finish top goes on.
The Merseysiders have produced relegation form since the turn of the year and Kenny Dalglish's men have lost five of their last six in league action.
Dutchman Kuyt accepts their results have not been up for scratch, stating a club like Liverpool will always be criticised as there are sky-high expectations at Anfield.
Unsurprised
"Criticism doesn't surprise me because Liverpool should always at least be in the top four or five," explained Kuyt.
"Manchester City have been in there the last couple of years and Spurs are doing really well but I think this team should be in the top five.
"That is what we expect for ourselves and that is the pressure we put on ourselves because a club like Liverpool should always be there.
"But, unfortunately, we are not in that position at the moment so we are just trying to change things.
"I think criticism at a club like Liverpool is always there when you don't reach the position people expect you to."
Points
As for Sunday's opponents Newcastle, he added: "They have done really well. They have had a great season and have a lot of points already.
"I still think we are a better team than them so we have to make sure we get three points against them because no one was happy with what happened in the last two games.
"Against QPR we were cruising at two-nil and we should have scored loads more and I still don't know how we lost.
"Against Wigan it was just not good enough, there were too many players who did not find the form they normally do and suddenly you end up with no points."
