Andy Robertson believes Liverpool must start picking up more points away from home if they are to defend their Premier League crown.
The Reds are sitting top of the division, ahead of Manchester United on goal difference alone with 16 matches played.
The champions have competed in a series of frustrating games away from Anfield, winning just one of their last seven and bottom-half teams in West Brom, Fulham, Brighton and Newcastle have all earned draws against Liverpool.
"Over the last two years or even three years - and no disrespect to those clubs - but last season we would have won those games," Robertson told Sky Sports said ahead of the Reds' trip to Southampton.
"And if you add two points to every one of those games then the league table is looking a lot different and we're sitting pretty happy, but you know, this season is going to be unique. I think there are seven or eight teams - once the games in hand have been played that are within three points of us at the top, and it's going to be a unique season as I said.
"I think I can comfortably say it's not going to be 97 or 98 points that is going to win the league this season, it's probably going to be in the 80s because it is that tight and everyone is taking points off each other. We need to stay in the race, and that's what we have done so far.
"Of course, the last two games have been disappointing, especially Newcastle [which ended 0-0]. We could have probably played all night the amount of chances we had, I think [Newcastle goalkeeper] Karl Darlow would have kept every one of them out the way he has playing. You sometimes get games like that. Thankfully, we haven't had too many like that in the last couple of years, but we had it the other night.
"It's just now we need to kick on in 2021. We need to go on a run of games where we win. We of course need to pick up more away points and keep picking up maximum points at home, and let's see where we end up. But it's a unique season. Hopefully we end up on top."
