Stevie is still feeling pain of fatal title slip with Liverpool
THE pain is still there for Steven Gerrard, nearly five years on.
That 2014 slip against Chelsea, which effectively cost Liverpool a first league title for 24 years, remains an open wound the Anfield legend admits may never close.
Now the Rangers boss is cheering on Jurgen Klopp and his squad in their bid to dethrone Manchester City and end 29 years of hurt.
The anguish of coming so close and losing out to City five years ago, however, continues to haunt the man who lifted every other domestic and European trophy with his club.
“This wound has been open since my experience,” he said. “I’m not sure it will close because I can’t change that experience and my experience. It doesn’t affect how I feel. 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.”
Gerrard spoke as he took time out from Ibrox to continue studying for his UEFA Pro-Licence at St George’s Park.
Liverpool host Burnley on Saturday 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,” said Gerrard. “They want it more than anyone. They will help.
“I think now in the Liverpool dressing room, they can use experiences of what’s gone before to try to help them in 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 them.”