Can Liverpool see it through to the end?
This was not the story line that the Liverpool faithful had in mind as they filled into Anfield on a Sunday afternoon. Three points against big spending Chelsea, sticking it to Jose Mourinho and ultimately putting themselves within a hair of the Premier League title was how it was suppose to happen – and then the Blues crashed the party. The final score of 2-0 in favor of Mourinho’s troops has put yet another spin on an already exhilarating title race that will surely come down to the final days.
If the result was not hard enough on the home support, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was the direct reason Chelsea opened the scoring through Demba Ba in the final moments of stoppage time in the first half. The talismanic Gerrard, so crucial for Liverpool all season long slipped at the crucial moment to set Ba through on goal – it was moment almost out of a Hollywood story board.
The second-half would see Mourinho set up his moat and stockade in front of the Chelsea goal as if he was taken back to Alesia – surely today he compared himself to Julius Caesar himself and Chelsea were under siege by a Liverpool side desperate to find an equalizer. There would be none forthcoming however and again in stoppage time, this time in the final minute of the match, an error at the rear of the Liverpool lines saw Fernando Torres and Willian break through on Simon Mignolet with the Brazilian calmly walking the ball into the net after Torres squared him past the Belgian shot-stopper.
Three points achieved for the Blues, but the post match would be rife with criticism towards Mourinho for parking more than one bus (according to Brendan Rodgers). Usually one to take a defeat well, Rodgers was certainly flustered by the events that took place on the Anfield pitch, but would you doubt his ability to pick his players up after what could be a demoralizing defeat to so many other clubs in the very same predicament? If Rodgers has proven anything above all the talents that he has put on display at the Liverpool helm, it’s his ability to man-manage, motivate and get the best out of his players regardless of circumstance.
With Manchester City’s 2-0 win at Selhurst Park against in-form Crystal Palace later on in the day, Liverpool are now just three points clear of City who have a match in hand over the Reds as well as a goal difference that is greater by eight. And while City do have that crucial extra game, it must be said that having one more fixture to traverse can be as much of a curse as a blessing – one more chance for City to slip up and one more chance for City to play under the added pressure of trying to catch the league leaders.
The irony of it all, in a fashion you just could not have put past the Premier League, Everton have a chance to aid their hated city rivals when City have the tough task of traveling to Goodison Park on Saturday. In other leagues, you would bet on a rival this late on potentially bottling their performance if it means sticking it to the other, but such is the pride and passion of the BPL that you can bet your bottom dollar that Everton will turn up for that match, especially under such a charismatic manager like Roberto Martinez.
Whatever happens in the final act of one of the greatest Premier League campaigns in recent memory, full credit will have to go to Liverpool and Rodgers for providing both neutral and partisan supporter with football that was some of the most thrilling stuff seen since perhaps the Invincibles. No matter your allegiance, it is hard to argue against Liverpool stealing just a little piece of our hearts and because of that, maybe we all are hoping they can see it through to the end.