Gerrard fears this was Klopp swansong
STEVEN GERRARD has admitted Liverpool might struggle to challenge Chelsea for the title after losing to Swansea.
Jurgen Klopp’s side were one of the early pacesetters but have fallen behind Antonio Conte’s side since the start of November.
Their struggles since Sadio Mane joined Senegal for the Africa Cup of Nations have seen them win just once in 2017 — against League Two Plymouth.
That led to Liverpool legend Gerrard suggesting that Chelsea’s gap at the top might be insurmountable. Speaking on BT Sport yesterday, Gerrard said: ‘It’s going to be very difficult now. They’ve left themselves a lot of work to do. It’s a 10-point gap if Chelsea win tomorrow.’
The defeat by Swansea saw Liverpool continue a recent trend of struggling against less-favoured sides at Anfield.
Gerrard believes the habit stretches back to his own playing days in red.
‘It’s been like that a long time from when I played as well. When we got close on a couple of occasions the damaging results were usually against lower teams.
‘Liverpool will be stunned, you can tell by Jurgen Klopp’s face. It’s a big shock because I’m sure they would have seen it as a three-point game.’
Klopp admitted to his disappointment, saying he had ‘no explanation’ for Swansea’s late winner.
‘If you go to the first half, in four or five moments it was like how it should be and in a few more moments it was like how we expected because we had to stay patient and create the moments when we could have scored. What we didn’t have in the first half was the last punch. So at 0-0 we come out but then we lose one challenge and Llorente scores. It was too easy.
‘The second goal we couldn’t defend the cross and that’s why you should avoid crosses as the ball is difficult in the air.
‘And then we came back, played really good and deserved our goals.
‘The most disappointing thing is their third goal. I have no explanation for this.
‘We had four or five opportunities to make a challenge but in the end one guy is free in our box. It makes no sense.’