The ghost of Steven Gerrard's catastrophic slip against Chelsea continues to haunt the Liverpool legend, with the former captain admitting the moment remains painfully etched in his memory and fundamentally altered the Premier League title race.
The Moment That Changed Everything
Speaking with raw honesty, Gerrard revealed how his unfortunate stumble at Anfield in April 2014 handed Chelsea's Demba Ba a clear path to goal during a crucial match that Liverpool desperately needed to win. "That moment against Chelsea, I'd have scored if I hadn't slipped," Gerrard confessed, highlighting the double agony of both the mistake and the missed opportunity.
Title Dreams Shattered in Seconds
The match represented Liverpool's best chance to secure their first Premier League title, with Brendan Rodgers' side sitting five points clear at the summit before the fateful encounter. Gerrard's emotional pre-match team talk, urging his teammates not to "let this slip," made the subsequent events even more cruelly ironic.
The aftermath saw Manchester City capitalise on Liverpool's stumble, snatching the championship from their grasp in one of the most dramatic title collapses in Premier League history.
Living With the Burden
Gerrard didn't shy away from accepting personal responsibility for the outcome, stating unequivocally: "I have to take that on the chin. It was my error, my mistake." The former England midfielder acknowledged that while many factors contributed to Liverpool ultimately missing out on glory, that single moment against Chelsea proved decisive.
The psychological impact has lingered for years, with Gerrard admitting the memory resurfaces frequently, serving as a permanent reminder of how close he came to delivering the trophy Liverpool supporters craved above all others.
A Legacy Beyond One Moment
Despite this painful chapter, Gerrard's legendary status at Anfield remains untarnished. His 17-year career at Liverpool included numerous iconic moments and a Champions League triumph in 2005. Yet the Chelsea slip stands as the defining 'what if' of his storied career - a moment of misfortune that changed the course of English football history.
