Eight Years Since Steven Gerrard Told His Liverpool Teammates 'We Do Not Let This Slip'

Steven Gerrard delivered his passionate, and ultimately terribly worded, 'we do not let this slip' speech to his Liverpool eight years ago today.

This isn't the first time in recent years that Manchester City and Liverpool have battled it out for the title, and though the rivalry, considered the best in English football history, has really turned up to another level in the past four years, it goes back as far as 2014.

Then there were just five league games left of their season when the Reds welcomed rivals City to Anfield, with Manuel Pellegrini's side four points behind Brendan Rodgers' team, and Chelsea in between the two sides, two behind the leaders.

A win for the hosts would surely put them within touching distance of their first league title in 24 years, and the first since the start of the Premier League.

Raheem Sterling and Martin Skrtel put the Reds 2-0 up inside the first half hour before City mounted a comeback in the second half. David Silva got the visitors back into the game before Glen Johnson scored an unfortunate own goal.

With just 12 minutes left Philippe Coutinho struck, following Vincent Kompany's poor clearance, to give Liverpool all three points and a seven point lead over City, knowing three wins from their final four games would be enough for the title.

Captain Gerrard gathered his teammates in a huddle for a speech that the the TV camera's managed to get in the middle of. Inspiring his team, the midfielder screamed over the cheers from the crowd "We do not let this f***ing slip. We do not let this f***ing slip. We go again!"

Steven Gerrard (zero #PL titles):

"We do NOT let this [#PL title] slip."

[via @footballdaily]pic.twitter.com/Rq618cSRfI

— City Report (@cityreport_) June 15, 2020

Those words were meant to rally his teammates in an inspirational guttural scream for one last push at a league title that had been over two decades in the making.

The captain inspiring his teammates and the Liverpool supporters in one huge show of togetherness and passion, or at least that's what he might have hoped the moment would be remembered for.

Unfortunately for Gerrard he really couldn't have chosen his words much worse, in one of the most incredible pieces of foreshadowing in sports history.

Liverpool did win their next game, against Norwich City, whilst Pellegrini's side dropped points in a 2-2 draw at home to Sunderland in midweek.

It all meant that Rodgers' side could all but secure the title if they beat fellow title chasers Chelsea at home, with just three games of the season left.

Fans don't need telling what happened next, in one of the league's most famous mistakes, Gerrard slipped when attempting to control a pass and let Demba Ba in to score a hugely important goal, which at least the Aston Villa manager can laugh about.

#OnThisDay in 2014...

Steven Gerrard's infamous slip against Chelsea led to Jose Mourinho's side snatching a win at Anfield...⚠🔴 pic.twitter.com/Yv0kbA4MiH

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 27, 2020

The Blues went on to win the game 2-0, with Willian rounding off the scoring in injury time at the end of the game as Chelsea broke from a Liverpool corner.

More agony was to come for Gerrard and his teammates just eight days later when they faced Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, with their title hopes still alive.

Liverpool took a 3-0 lead in the 53rd minute, after goals form Joe Allen, Luis Suarez and an own goal from Damien Delaney, before the moment known as Crystanbul took place.

▶️ #OnThisDay in 2014, Liverpool threw away a three goal lead against Crystal Palace and their title hopes were over.

Luis Suarez left the pitch crying, Steven Gerrard stood in disbelief. #CRYLIV #PL pic.twitter.com/zeShNkVoX8

— BETDAQ (@BETDAQ) May 5, 2020

Palace came back to draw 3-3 with three goals in nine minutes, Delaney grabbed the first before a brace from Dwight Gayle and Liverpool lost out on the title to City by just two points!

It would take another six years for the club to finally break their title drought, with Jurgen Klopp's side lifting the trophy after beating City to the title by a mammoth 18 points.

This time things are likely to go down to the wire again, and no one at Anfield will be talking about slipping before the season is done with in May.