Dirk Kuyt has revealed his lack of surprise at the criticism directed at Liverpool this season and insists the Reds should be contesting for a place in the Premier League's top four.
Liverpool sit seventh in table heading into the weekend fixtures, but could drop as low as ninth if results go against them.
Sixth-placed Newcastle, the Reds opponents on Sunday at the Sports Direct Arena, can go 12 points clear of the Anfield club with victory.
Despite being in the FA Cup semi-finals and winning the League Cup already this season, Kuyt admits that their league form has underlined a disappointing season.
Kuyt has accepted the criticism, he told reporters: "It [criticism] doesn't surprise me because Liverpool should always at least be in the top four or 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."
Kuyt admits he does not know how Liverpool managed to lose to Wigan at home and QPR away in recent weeks, despite being comfortable at parts in each game.
"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.
"Against QPR we were cruising at 2-0 and we should have scored loads more and I still don't know how we lost."
Despite Dalglish maintaining otherwise, a run of five defeats in six league matches have all but ended Liverpool's challenge for a Champions League spot.
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