Jurgen Klopp labelled the external reaction to Liverpool's mini slump "predictable" as he called on his players to show aggression in fighting back to form.
Successive 1-1 draws against Leicester City and West Ham allowed Manchester City to regain top spot in the Premier League with a 2-0 win at Everton in midweek.
Liverpool have a game in hand on Pep Guardiola's side but dropping points against mid-table teams in consecutive matches has prompted questions over whether they can hold their nerve during the home stretch.
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The Reds entertain Bournemouth on Saturday - 24 hours before City's home clash with Chelsea - and Klopp admitted it was incumbent upon his players to demonstrate resolve.