Nobody likes losing. For Liverpool to lose to The Special One today, was a crash landing of note from the "Make Us Dream" anthem that has accompanied You'll Never Walk Alone! The result brough back visions of the last match of the season marred by the Hillsborough Disaster, as Michael Thomas, in the dying minutes of the game scored the winner that would sink Liverpool to second and we lost the title on goal difference. Flashbacks of being the last team to top the Barclays Premier League on Christmas Day, and not go on to win it came flooding in. You watch your confidence wilt, as "what if" scenarios cross your mind.
As I let the fears surface, I was also getting relieved! For one, the title race remains wide open, just as it was before this weekend and the weekend before that. We have lost the game, but we have not lost the chance to win the season. After losing to Chelsea and Manchester City at the end of last year, we were toppled from the log leader position. Spirits were down and suddenly, qualifying for Europe became a daunting task again, as we were fourth. Mathematically though, it was possible that if we won the rest of our games in the season, Liverpool would be crowned Barclays Premier League Champions in 2014.
It was Mathematically possible, but statistically not probable. The team under Brendan Rodgers chose to rise to the ocassion. Nothing else mattered, just one game at a time. A wobble against Aston Villa in January created the doubt, but I was happy to see Liverpool play badly and yet still salvage a point. What was to follow, was overwhelming. Liverpool thrashed Everton 4-0 at Anfield, drew 1-1 against a revived West Brom followed by another 5-1 hiding dished out to Arsenal at Anfield.
A dominant run of form followed, scoring goals and breaking all manner of records, particularly on the goal scoring front as Sunderland were the only team to not concede three goals against Liverpool. "This Is Anfield" is a board that many opposition teams feared again, as they came down the tunnel to play at Anfield. The climax of beating Tottenham 4-0 at Anfield at the end of March, had everyone bedazzled at the eight straight wins Liverpool had pulled off.
You could slowly feel the pressure turned up on Liverpool, whose target of qualifying for Europe suddenly seemed to lack ambition. The players still had the right mindset, every game is a cup final, but suddenly by moving the goal posts, the pressure was not subsiding. Brendan Rodgers and Steven Gerrard led from the front, aleveating the pressure from a team who now could no longer be shielded by the ignorance of youth.
We all started dreaming about how great it would be to win it for Captain Fantastic, Steven Gerrard. We all love a happy ending, and his great ability and loyalty deserves the reward of a Premier League medal, even for the non-Liverpool supporting fan. Luis Suarez was on a run rate of scoring that could eclipse the record set by Alan Shearer and Christiano Ronaldo. We could still win the league if we won the rest of our games!
At the beginning of April, we had the same requirements to win the league as we did at the beginning of January, and yet we had done so much? The only difference was Liverpool was fourth on the log before the first games of January and they were first on the log before the games of April.
To lose to Chelsea at Anfield is a relief as it helps reset the clock. The consecutive win streak ends, taking away the statistical pressure point. Liverpool had won 11 games in a row before being beaten by Chelsea, and they were the only Premier League team yet to lose in 2014. That's a lot to bear for a young squad, especially considering the club has failed to qualify for Europe for four years. Jose Mourinho's Premier League record against Liverpool is P9 W7 D1 L1. He's the best one to lose to, leaving a better chance for the bounce back ability of the team to be proved. The last time Liverpool lost a game in the Barclays Premier League, it was to Chelsea.
Add that the mistake was made by Gerrard that cost the first goal, that puts the burden on the broadest shoulders in the team, with the most experience. Anyone else, I would have doubted recovery for the next two crucial games. The crowd roaring and cheering Steve Gerrard after that first goal, was atypical to how the home team reacts when the opposition scores. Normally there is dead silence. The increased volume singing You'll Never Walk Alone after the last goal was scored, was again uncharacteristic of "things going wrong". To fall from the high at Anfield, softens the blow and gets behind the Liverpool players, giving them that extra nudge required to get over the finish line!
The requirement at the beginning of January, is the same as that at the beginning of February, which is the same as that at the beginning of March, which was the same at the beginning of April. Win the rest of your games left in the season! We can't ask the Liverpool players to do any more than that. Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers after the Chelsea game put it well when he said; "I'm disappointed but I can only pay tribute to my players. The run we were on was exceptional"
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