Steven Gerrard's Premier League title-losing slip against Chelsea still haunts Liverpool icon - but

April 27, 2014 is a day which will forever be etched into the memories of all Liverpool fans - and especially legendary midfielder Steven Gerrard.

Under Brendan Rodgers' tutelage the Reds were so close to ending a 24-year wait for what would have been a 19th league title.

The team was packed with star-studded names, including the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Luis Suarez, Raheem Sterling and Gerrard himself.

When Chelsea rocked up on Merseyside that day there was a feeling of optimism surrounding Anfield - surely it was a matter of when, and not if, they'd be top-flight champions once more.

The Reds were on a 16-game unbeaten streak in the Premier League - winning their previous 11 encounters.

That impressive sequence included a dramatic 3-2 victory over title rivals Manchester City.

With three games remaining morale was high and the Reds were seemingly in an unassailable position holding a five-point lead at the top.

Another home win for Rodgers' side would put them in touching distance of securing the title.

Meanwhile, the Blues arrived at Anfield knowing only a win would be enough to keep their title dream alive.

However, disaster struck on the stroke of half-time in a moment that will be imprinted on the minds of Liverpool fans for the rest of their lives.

It was in that one split second the whole ground caved in for Gerrard and Liverpool's title challenge was now in serious jeopardy.

With the game delicately poised at 0-0, Gerrard miscontrolled a simple pass from Mamadou Sakho and slipped in his own half.

The ball then rolled effortlessly into the path of Chelsea striker Demba Ba, who ran towards the Kop unaided and made no mistake as he coolly slotted the ball past Simon Mignolet.

A deafening and eerie silence surrounded Anfield. Gerrard, still in disbelief at what had just happened, got to his feet.

To Liverpool fans' credit they chanted Gerrard's name at half-time, but the legendary midfielder and his teammates were unable to provide a solution in the second half.

Willian's stoppage time goal rubbed salt into the wounds of the Anfield faithful, and then a little over a week later they surrendered a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 at Selhurst Park. Their title dream was over.

45mins: Goal for Chelsea - Demba Ba takes advantage of a slip by Steven Gerrard to run through and put the visitors ahead #LFC 0-1 #CFC

Gerrard won two FA Cups, three League Cups, the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup during a glorious 17-year stint at his boyhood club.

But the former England international has admitted that moment against Chelsea will always be one which tainted his career with an element of sadness.

"This wound has been open since that experience," he said. "I'm not sure it will close because I can't change that experience. It doesn't affect how I feel towards what I'm looking in on now.

"I don't drive myself crazy over it. At the same time, it was such a big year. It was the trophy that eluded me. I'm always going to look back and wish it was different.

“I think about it most days. A Liverpool team winning the league would help how I feel for sure.

“When I analyse it properly I understand it wasn’t just that moment (the slip) but still part of my head thinks it is.

“People say to me, to make me feel better, it was over 38 games. But I still know, behind what you’re saying to me, that moment was so big."

Glen Johnson, a former teammate of Gerrard's, told talkSPORT.com last year that the blame for Liverpool title's collapse that year should not be laid at the former's door.

Johnson, a key part of that team, says that the Reds were lucky to even still be in title contention heading into the final stages of the 2013/14 campaign.

“We lost the league because of our form before Christmas,” the ex-England defender said. “What a lot of people forget is that we dropped 20 points before Christmas.

“Then we went on an unbelievable run from Christmas onwards, but people forget about the first half of the season."

On the game in question, he added: “We dominated the whole game. Even at the Bridge, they sat back and showed us total respect. We literally battered them. But by doing so, you keep going forward and there are spaces.

“When you’re spread out like we were and you’re so free-flowing, if you get a slight problem, then everybody’s out of position.

“With a team like Chelsea, they’ve got players who can hit you on the break with the gaps that you leave.”

The stats back up Johnson's point. Incredibly, the Reds dropped 30 points in their failed title pursuit seven years ago, and still, they only missed out on the title by two points. They could’ve dropped 27 points and won the title.

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Not forgetting that on that fateful day, Liverpool had 73 per cent of the ball and 26 shots on goal.

They should have been more clinical in front of goal, that wasn't Gerrard's fault.

While this moment is something that will undoubtedly still haunt Gerrard, he should be remembered fondly for the major role he played in bringing European and FA Cup glory to Anfield, and not for one mistake in a season of excellence.

There was at least some sort of silver lining for Gerrard, now managing Scottish giants Rangers, as he watched on while the Reds ended their 30-year wait for a title last season in emphatic fashion.

And he went one better by delivering a stunning 55th title triumph for the Ibrox giants in 2020/21 - ending Celtic's decade-long dominance in Scottish football.

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