Steven Gerrard is probably looking away already, for while the fifth anniversary of his infamous slip against Chelsea is still a couple of weeks away, deja vu is inescapable when today’s fixtures offer an exact repeat of the situation when Liverpool last saw a title slide out of view.
Their rivals then, as now, were Manchester City, away at Crystal Palace on 27 April 2014 as Liverpool prepared to meet second-placed Chelsea at Anfield. The difference is that five years ago Liverpool were in the driving seat, a 16-game unbeaten run that included thumping wins against Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham having taken them top of the Premier League with 80 points. Chelsea were five behind with three games remaining, City trailed by six and had also lost at Anfield but, crucially, had four games left to play.
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