SLIPPY GLEE
Chelsea keeper on day of Kop idol’s fateful fall says Gerrard is so far ahead of Celts he can afford a few tumbles and still win historic title
IT was a small slip that haunts Steven Gerrard to this day and shows how title races can be decided by the finest of margins.
But it’s credit to the former England captain that only a monumental collapse will fail to see him succeed as a manager where he failed as a player by lifting a league title.
Gerrard admitted last month that ending a decade-long wait to bring the Premiership trophy to Ibrox would also help heal some personal wounds following the heartbreak of his failure with Liverpool in 2014.
The Reds needed just seven points from their final three games back then when Gerrard famously lost his footing to allow Demba Ba to score for Chelsea before Willian sealed victory for Jose Mourinho’s men.
That handed the title initiative to Manchester City with Liverpool blowing a three-goal lead away to Crystal Palace in their next game as another Premier League dream went up in smoke.
Australian goalkeeping legend Mark Schwarzer was between the sticks for Chelsea that fateful day in April 2014 and, despite being on the opposite side, could feel Gerrard’s pain.
He believes it’s harsh to pin their failure on the Kop legend and captain but reckons it will have made him more driven to succeed as a boss at Rangers.
And with the Light Blues now boasting a staggering 21-point lead over rivals Celtic ahead of Sunday’s trip to Motherwell, Schwarzer knows they can even afford a few Gerrard-style slips and still be crowned champions.
Fans of Liverpool’s rivals used the terrace taunt “he slips on his f****** a***” while Celtic supporters also chant “Have you ever seen Gerrard win the league?” in reference to the fact it was the one trophy to elude him during a glittering career.
Schwarzer reckons it’s only a matter of time before that changes and told Record Sport: “Even as an opposition player I had sympathy for Steven that day because we’ve all been there.
“As a goalkeeper I’ve had situations where my view was obstructed or made a mistake that cost the team.
“The perception is that Steven’s slip against us cost Liverpool the title but a season isn’t decided by one moment, as heartbreaking as that was for him.
“A season is decided by an accumulation of things and it’s because of that hard work all season that Rangers find themselves in such a healthy position – to the point where one thing won’t cost them.
“Yes, that one game at Anfield swung on an unfortunate incident for Steven but I don’t believe the actual season is on one moment.
“It’s a combination of things. Liverpool still went away to Palace in the next game and drew on a night when they really went for it because of goal difference.
“But you can’t necessarily pinpoint one particular moment in one game and say that it is fully responsible for the outcome of an entire season.
“I know it makes a great tabloid headline but for me it wasn’t that one moment. Of course, when you take that game in isolation it swings the momentum but it’s not one mistake in one game that costs you the entire season.
“It wasn’t even a mistake.
“There was nothing he could have done about it.
“It was a split-second thing and it was unfortunate but heartbreaking.
“Anyone who has gone through a difficult period of time – and particularly the ones at the very top – they generally use that experience for the better later on.
“They use that experience to make themselves more determined and stronger mentally to go on and have success in the future. Steven has clearly done that.
“Moments in your career either hinder you progressing or they are the making of you.
“That is just one moment in his career that added to the personality of Steven that you see today.
“And it has enabled him to become a very successful manager so far since coming to Ibrox.”
Gerrard has refused to get carried away despite the huge gap at the Premiership summit and Schwarzer believes that will continue until they can’t be caught.
He pointed to Liverpool finally winning the title last season following a 30-year wait as an example because they showed a relentless streak despite an eventual 18-point margin.
The 48-year-old – capped 109 times for the Socceroos – said: “Knowing how most of us footballers think, I’m sure Steven’s message will be it’s not done until it’s done.
“They’ll be relentless and he’ll be driving them on to get over the line and not relying on the fact they’ve got such a big lead.
“He’ll be pushing his players on to win the title as soon as possible and then to go on some – they’ll want to win it by a huge margin.
“It was like Liverpool winning the title last season. Everyone thought it was a foregone conclusion but Jurgen
Klopp and his players responded to that by continuing to win, put points on the board and make it impossible for them to be caught.
“I have no doubt it will be a similar mentality for Steven and his players.
“To go up there and break – or seemingly break because they haven’t done it yet –that stranglehold Celtic have had on the league for the last nine years is remarkable.
“I’m sure a lot of things have gone on behind the scenes as well to put the club in a healthier position but most of the credit has to go to Steven and his staff.
“Many managers have gone to Ibrox in the past and struggled to deal with the pressure and deliver success. But he’s well on his way to doing that , which just shows you his ability to manage a group of players and turn them into what looks a title-winning side.
“You can’t get too ahead of yourself but they’re in a great position and what he’s achieved thus far is nothing short of incredible.”
He’ll drive his players on to win the title by a huge margin MARK SCHWARZER ON WHAT INSPIRES STEVEN GERRARD