Liverpool host Chelsea on Sunday in a pivotal Premier League clash that is likely to have a tremendous say in the fate of this season’s title.
The Reds are locked in a tense tussle with reigning champions Manchester City for the top-flight crown and it was this fixture five seasons ago that lives in infamy for their fans.
Steven Gerrard’s costly slip saw Demba Ba open the scoring at Anfield and send Chelsea on their way to a 2-0 win, with the trophy ultimately heading to Etihad Stadium and prolonging Liverpool’s long wait for a league championship.
REDS CAN’T LET THIS SLIP AGAIN
A 2-0 defeat to Chelsea on April 27, 2014, sparked by Steven Gerrard’s mistake, saw the title slip away from Liverpool.
Liverpool can rise or fall as they stand on the precipice of a painful, unwanted and still very raw anniversary.
In a near identical situation five seasons ago, the Reds were on the cusp of winning the English title for the first time in 24 years when Chelsea rolled into town.
Jose Mourinho’s side – weakened ahead of a Champions League semi-final second leg showdown with Atletico Madrid three days later – were expected to be rolled over by a rampant Reds side on a 16-game unbeaten run and 11-game winning streak.
But an over-confident home side were subjected to their worst nightmare as a Mourinho masterclass and horrendous individual error from talismanic skipper Gerrard put the Blues on course for victory.
It’s two weeks shy of being exactly five years later and Liverpool are in another tussle for the title – it’s now been 29 years since they were champions of England.
In an ironic twist, title rivals City – just like they were five years ago – are again away at Crystal Palace on the same weekend. They have the tougher run-in, but possess the experience of having been here before and got over the line.
James Milner, while at City, is the only player in Liverpoo’s current squad to own a Premier League winners’ medal.
Gerrard, now infamously, screamed to his team-mates after a crucial victory over City at Anfield weeks prior to Chelsea’s visit five seasons ago “this doesn’t slip now”. You know the rest.
Is history doomed to repeat itself, or are Liverpool finally about to re-write history?
LIVERPOOL MENTALLY STRONGER
Speaking of the past, and the football Klopp has this version of the Merseysiders playing in 2018/19 appears more measured than the swashbuckling style Brendan Rodgers championed half a decade ago.
But this is not a criticism. They have added steel to their silk this term, even when compared to 2017/18.
Okay, so Liverpool might not have a forward player as devastating as Luis Suarez. Mohamed Salah would point to his haul of 32 league goals and 52 in all competitions last season and beg to differ, but he’s had his struggles this season, as well as shouldering a more creative burden, while Suarez was a pure and lethal finisher.
And they no longer have their iconic captain Gerrard – he and Suarez were a potent combination.
Now, Liverpool are a more well-oiled, all-round unit. They were prolific scorers last season (84) but this year they seem to be the whole package – they’re only nine shy of last term’s goals, but have conceded 18 fewer.
Sadio Mane is sharing the goalscoring burden with Salah and Roberto Firmino, while at the back Virgil van Dijk’s protracted arrival from Southampton has seen him morph into arguably the greatest centre-back on the planet.
Alisson, between the sticks, is also a more dependable custodian and stands head and shoulders above previous incumbents of the No1 jersey, Loris Karius and Simon Mignolet.
They were naive and over-confident five years ago. This year, this Liverpool finally look ready to end the Kop’s coveted wait for a 19th league title.
HAZARD WARNING FOR HOSTS
Eden Hazard scored a wonder goal for Chelsea against West Ham.
But, just like Liverpool were guilty of doing five years ago, let’s not treat Chelsea as “the clowns” Mourinho accused the Liverpool title-expecting “circus” of framing his side into being.
The opening act to the main event – Liverpool’s coronation.
This time, Chelsea won’t be weakened, they won’t have 41-year-old Mark Schwarzer in goal and their main men on the bench. True, they’re out of sorts this season, but are in a fine run of form under Maurizio Sarri, having lost just once in 10 games since being defeated by City in the Carabao Cup final at the end of February.
There’s also the small matter of having Eden Hazard spearheading their attack – his two-goal performance against West ham last time out suggests he is hitting form at just the right time – or wrong time, depending on which side of the fence you sit.
The Belgian is undoubtedly brilliant but has throughout his Blues career flitted in and out of form, while earlier in the campaign there was concern that his head had been turned too far towards Santiago Bernabeu as a summer move to Real Madrid looms.
But, for now, he is a Chelsea player and he is bang in form. His first goal against the Hammers was breathtaking and will be in with a shout for goal of the season.
Meanwhile, his statistics improved to 16 goals for the season – three behind Sergio Aguero – and 12 assists, putting him top of that chart.
That’s 28 goals and assists for the term – putting Hazard top of the list. He now has 85 goals in 240 Premier League games – surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo and drawing level with Fernando Torres.
Hazard is on fire. Liverpool, you have been warned.
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