Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I pray for the fans’sake Liverpool win the title ...but even that won’t really heal the wound of my costly 2014 slip against Chelsea
ICON GERRARD ON THE NEVER-ENDING PAIN OF THAT TITLE-DEFINING MOMENT
THE PAIN is still there for Steven Gerrard.
That 2014 slip against Chelsea which effectively cost Liverpool a first league title for 24 years remains an open wound that the Anfield legend admits may never heal.
Rangers boss Gerrard is cheering on Jurgen Klopp and his squad in their bid to dethrone Manchester City and end Liverpool’s 29 years of hurt.
But the anguish of going so close five years ago continues to haunt the man who lifted every other domestic and European trophy with his boyhood club.
“This wound has been open since it happened,” he said. “I am not sure it will close because I can’t change that experience.
“It doesn’t affect how I feel (about Liverpool) now.
“I look at a squad of players, some of whom I am still friends with. I see a support that gave me absolutely everything from the terraces and around the world, and I see a manager who has been an open book in terms of how he has been with me.
“I just hope for their sake, and mine as a supporter, that come the end of the competition they are victorious. But it won’t make me or my wound feel any different.”
It was in April 2014 that Demba Ba capitalised on the former Liverpool captain’s slip to put Chelsea on course for a shock 2-0 win at Anfield.
The upset ended an 11game winning streak for the Reds that had started in early February.
This time around the setbacks for Klopp and his men have come far sooner. Victory at City on January 3 would have extended a nine-game winning run and sent the Reds 10 points clear at the top.
Instead they were beaten and have blown hot and cold ever since.
Liverpool host Burnley on Sunday on the back of four draws from their last five. The tension is setting in again.
“I think it is only normal for the supporters (to be tense),” said Gerrard. “They want it more than anyone.
“When we were in that situation, I didn’t feel suffocated by the fans. I actually felt they were right behind us and with us and wanted it so much. I saw it as a help rather than a hindrance.
“I will be honest, it was difficult for me at times, on certain days. But I think now in the Liverpool dressing room, they can use experiences of what has gone
The Premier League was the only trophy that eluded me. Of course I am always going to look back
before to try and help them on the run-in.
“They have a great leader in Jurgen who, I am sure, is trying to take a lot of pressure and anxiety away from the Liverpool players.”
Gerrard spoke as he took time out from Ibrox to continue studying for his UEFA Pro Licence at St George’s Park.
He added: “We had a fantastic team back then. I don’t want to disrespect any of the squad that I played with but I think Liverpool have done an incredible job in supporting Jurgen, in giving him what he wants and what he needed.
“To spend the amount of money they have on Alisson and Virgil van Dijk has improved Liverpool immensely. I’d love to have played with those two, for sure.
“I played in one great team with (Fernando) Torres, one with (Michael) Owen, one with (Robbie) Fowler, and one with (Luis) Suarez, although (Daniel) Sturridge was a great support act.
“If you are a midfielder for Liverpool now, given the three front men they have, and you are at this stage and in this position, you have to be excited.”
For Gerrard, however, there are only regrets about 2014.
“It was the trophy that eluded me so of course I am always going to look back and wish things could have been different,” he said.