Luis Suarez: “Anxiety” cost Liverpool the Premier League in 2014
Barcelona forward Luis Suarez believes Liverpool couldn’t handle the “difficult moments” in their infamous 2013/14 Premier League title race.
The Reds find themselves in a similar position this season as they’re locked in battle with Manchester City for English football’s top prize.
Will Liverpool go one better this time around? Five things you need to know…
- Managed by Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool were close to winning the Premier League title in the 2013/14 season.
- However, an infamous slip by captain Steven Gerrard plus an incredible turnaround in a 3-3 draw at Crystal Palace saw City ultimately pip them to the title.
- The two sides are once again in the hunt for the Premier League title with City ahead by one point and three games to play.
- Liverpool host Huddersfield this evening, knowing a win takes them back to the top of the Premier League again.
- Suarez was part of the Liverpool side that finished runners-up five years ago.
https://audioboom.com/posts/7241178-squawka-talker-awards-player-of-the-year-to-the-premier-league-s-biggest-flop
Away from the Premier League title race, Liverpool also have the small matter of facing European powerhouse Barcelona for a place in this season’s Champions League final.
The Reds face the Catalan giants in the semi-finals, which prompted former Liverpool forward Suarez to reflect on his old side’s attitude in their last title-chase in 2014.
Suarez believes that the side under Rodgers couldn’t cope with the “difficult moments” that inevitably come with a Premier League title race and that “anxiety” throughout the squad impacted their chances of glory.
“We weren’t always able to handle those difficult moments, what happened with Stevie [Gerrard] was bad luck,” Suarez said.
“Also, against Crystal Palace, we should have said ‘let’s play calmly, we’re 3-0 up and Manchester City have to play in midweek’, but we had that anxiety.
“We had an urge to score more goals and went forward even though we were winning 3-0, thinking we could win the title on goal difference, we made the mistake of being, let’s say, too young.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PfX3AofIAk
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Three to go
The Reds know that if they are to stand any chance of ending a 29-year wait to become English champions then Manchester City will need to do them a favour.
However, they also need to ensure that they pick up maximum points before even considering the possibility that Pep Guardiola’s side will drop them.
Liverpool hosts already-relegated Huddersfield Town this evening in a match that is expected to finish in a Reds victory.
However, this match is a potential ‘banana-skin’ and Jurgen Klopp will have to make sure that this specific Liverpool side keep their composure if moments get tough.
