Jurgen Klopp has claimed it is not fair to criticise his Liverpool side's struggles until the end of the season.
The Reds' latest defeat, a late 2-1 loss against relegation contenders Leeds at Anfield on Sunday, leaves the Reds as low as ninth in the Premier League.
And ahead of their clash with Napoli in the Champions League on Tuesday night, Klopp insisted he and the club should only be judged at the campaign's conclusion next summer - before hitting back at accusations of a lack of 'fight'.
He said: 'We all do our job in public, the judgement of this is maybe later on in the season.