Steven Gerrard's title-race advice: 'Enjoy it, believe in yourselves'
Steven Gerrard’s advice for Liverpool’s players as the Premier League title race nears its conclusion is simple.
“Don’t overthink it, just enjoy it, believe in yourselves. I’ve been in touch with a few of them but it’s more, ‘Good luck’, ‘All the best’, ‘Keep going’. Encouragement,” the legendary former Reds captain and current Rangers manager told The Times.
Jürgen Klopp’s team sit one point behind Manchester City with nine games remaining after Pep Guardiola’s side assumed top spot last weekend.
Such is the relentlessness of their ongoing competition with City, it’s possible that Liverpool could end the campaign without being champions despite having amassed a total of up to 97 points.
And that fact, Gerrard asserts, proves that significant progress has been made this term, regardless of where the Premier League trophy ends up.
“Certain people around the world will see it as failure but there’s nothing you can do about that,” he said.
“For me, as a fan, Jürgen has taken the team and the squad forward giant strides. He’s doing everything he can. Sometimes, if someone beats you to it just, sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say the better team won.
“I hope that is not the case but I don’t think you can be too critical if you have been fantastic and have done ever so well to be in it in the first place.
“There are some nerves about, which is understandable. There is such a big prize up for grabs. I’ll be honest, it was difficult for me at times. I was local, a supporter who’d been there since I was seven.
“I’d won a lot of things but wasn’t lucky enough to win the Premiership. I think now in the Liverpool dressing room, they can use experiences of what has gone before to help them in the run-in.
“They have a great leader in Jürgen who, I’m sure, is trying to take a lot of pressure and anxiety away from them.”
Watch Gerrard play at Anfield again for Liverpool FC Legends versus Milan Glorie on Saturday March 23.
Tickets for the game are priced at £22 for adults, £5 for juniors and £15 for over 65s. They are available to purchase online only at: http://www.liverpoolfc.com/tickets/tickets-availability.