Losing Premier League title race will haunt Liverpool, says Emma Hayes
Liverpool will be haunted after losing the title race to Manchester City, says Emma Hayes, though Liam Rosenior believes there was little else the Reds could have done.
City clinched the Premier League title with victory at Brighton on Sunday, amassing 98 points, just one more than Liverpool’s 97 – an unprecedented amount for a second-placed side in the top flight.
Liverpool had a seven-point lead in January but City surpassed it by winning their final 14 games.
And while Liverpool won their last nine, Hayes – Chelsea Women’s manager – believes that the Reds’ excitement got the better of them when they were in control of the title race.
Speaking on The Debate, she said: „There’s one thing I sensed around that time, that they got so excited about winning the title, they perhaps didn’t keep applying the very things that were getting them from game to game, but it’s easy to criticize that.
„When you’re in that position and you start to see that, not being able to close that out, will haunt them.“
However, former Hull City and Brighton midfielder Rosenior was quick to defend the Reds.
„They got 97 points,“ said Rosenior.
„They didn’t lose it. Whoever won it absolutely earned it.
„These are two of the best teams of this era. There are no egos, there are top, world-class players. For me, to get 97 points… they lost one game!“
Liverpool were denied an invincible season – and perhaps the title – when they lost 2-1 to Manchester City in January at the Etihad, almost equalising with an effort that was a mere 11mm away from crossing the goal line. A win would have sent them 10 points clear.
And despite the fine margins that ultimately decided the title, Dion Dublin believed there may be moments that Hayes could see with a „managerial eye“, where Liverpool were at fault.
„I’ve been in that position and nearly blown it,“ said Hayes. „I know how that feels when you’re comfortable and start looking upwards.
„I think when you’re in that position, the most important thing to do when you’ve got excitement is to temper it massively, because it’s just human to feel that way. That’s not criticism – they’ve been absolutely brilliant. But the reality is they were seven points, almost three games, ahead.
„Only the players and manager will know what slipped away at the key moment, irrespective of how fabulous they’ve both been.“
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