Jamie Carragher has revealed which player he blames for the Chelsea goal that cost Liverpool the Premier League title in 2013/14.
The Reds were in pole position to end their 24-year top-level drought by the end of the season before collapsing in the final stretch, allowing Manchester City to take advantage.
The 2–0 defeat to Chelsea at Anfield ended an eleven-match winning streak and was the catalyst for Liverpool’s collapse, and a 3–3 draw against Crystal Palace in the following match ended their hopes of title.
Chelsea’s crucial opener in the crunch clash when Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard slipped while in possession in his own half, giving Demba Ba the chance to run through on goal.
The win was confirmed in stoppage time when Willian doubled the visitors’ lead, but Gerrard’s role in the first goal was shamefully written up.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard infamously slipped before Demba Ba scored Chelsea’s first goal
The former captain is still haunted by the mistake at Anfield almost a decade ago
But Jamie Carragher laid the blame elsewhere as he lamented Liverpool’s 2014 setback
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But Carragher does not lay the blame at the feet of his former captain, instead revealing that he pointed the finger at another of his teammates that day.
“I still blame Simon Mignolet for that goal with Demba Ba,” Carragher told his co-hosts. Stick to football podcast, brought to you by Sky bet.
‘He went so straight at goal that he couldn’t put it anywhere other than through the goalkeeper’s legs.
‘He ran so straight towards the goal that I think it was difficult to score and he had nowhere else to go.’
In 2020, Gerrard admitted he was still haunted by the accident, which he described as a “brutal, cruel low point in (his) life.”
“I park it, but it keeps coming back,” said Al-Ettifaq’s manager. ‘What triggers it? Don’t know. TV. Pictures. Only I reflect’.
But despite being the architect of Gerrard’s nightmares, goalscorer Ba has previously declared he ‘had no sympathy for him’ for playing a part in an enduring moment of shame.
Jose Mourinho – who was Chelsea’s head coach and wanted to defend the title that day – took a more charitable view of the day’s events when asked about the December match.
The Portuguese manager has a strong relationship with Liverpool’s then head coach Brendan Rogers and was keen to emphasize that he felt ‘sorry’ for his counterpart even though ‘friends stay at home on matchday’.
The Liverpool legend named teammate Simon Mignolet as the player responsible for the goal
Jose Mourinho previously revealed why Chelsea were so determined to spoil Liverpool’s 2014 title dream
Mourinho celebrated full-time on the sidelines and revealed his team were particularly excited in an attempt to ‘destroy their side’.
“We were on the bus and the guys outside were selling shirts that said ‘Liverpool Champions’ on them, and as Chelsea you can’t allow that,” Mourinho said. “You have to keep the marketing and merchandise in a box.
‘We played a fantastic match. “Obviously Stevie G slipped, and he was the last person to deserve that, but that’s part of football and in reality we played so well.”
Liverpool had to wait another six years before claiming their first Premier League title in three decades when they lifted the trophy at the end of the 2019-20 season.
Jamie Carragher spoke on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky bet