In what is undoubtedly the key fixture of this weekend’s Premier League schedule, Chelsea will travel to face leaders Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday. Both teams have all to play for, Liverpool is in pursuit of their first league title since 1991 while Chelsea simply cannot afford to drop points as they chase a Champions League qualification spot.
The margins have never been finer, but wait.. they have! Back in 2014 in the exact same month Brendan Rodger’s Liverpool faced off with Jose Mourinho’s injury ravaged Chelsea at Anfield with Liverpool leading the table and in a very strong position to win the league with a mere 3 games of the season left to play.
All Liverpool needed was a draw against Chelsea, win the other 2 games and they have their first title in 2 decades. What happened, however, will remain in every Liverpool’s fan memory. Jose Mourinho’s time-wasting tactics really got into Liverpool’s minds and they grew increasingly frustrated as the game went on.
With minutes to play in the first half, Liverpool’s heart and soul player Steven Gerrard failed to control a simple pass, slipped while trying to recover and Demba Ba raced clear to score in the process instilling a death-like silence at Anfield. Liverpool quite never recovered in the second half and as desperation kicked in and they sent all their men forward, Fernando Torres broke on the counter, fed Willian who scored to kill Liverpool’s title hopes.
Have Liverpool learnt from that mistake? Can they banish the ghost of 2014 and produce a nerveless performance that will without a doubt make them title favorites should they win? Chelsea will be fired up especially after picking up a bit of form in the last few weeks while Liverpool have been shaky. It will be a test of character for Jurgen Klopp’s men, with the whole world watching, can they finally come of age?
