Legend Believes Show of Nerves Can Be Key

Liverpool’s 2:1 over Sunderland on Wednesday night was well-received, once fans had recovered from their frayed nerves and plastered up their gnawed down fingernails and Liverpool legend, Jamie Carragher, believes that the nervy end to the game at Anfield will only help to push the team on during the final 7 games of the season.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Carragher said “It was nervy at the end but I think that will hold them in good stead between now and the end of the season,” said the former England and Liverpool defender.

“So often I’ve been at games where they’ve been two or three up at half-time and the game is finished.”

As many amongst the press and fans believed that a win was only inevitable and the real conversation concerned how many Liverpool would score, it was surprising all round that Liverpool were still level with Sunderland after 35 minutes, when the nerves began to seep from the crowd on to the pitch. Thankfully, Steven Gerrard opened the scoring minutes before half-time but the nerves weren’t to be calmed for long as, after racing 2 in front early on in the second half, Sunderland pulled one back to dampen proceedings.

Carragher went on to say “But Chelsea, City and maybe even Spurs will be stronger opposition – top teams coming to Anfield – it will be tight, it will be nervy – so to go through that and come out with the three points will do them wonders between now and the end of the season.”

Rarely has a game of such narrow margins (although, not in terms of the Reds’ domination of the opposition) been heralded in such a way and Jamie simply echoed the sentiments of many members of the press and fans in believing that having to grind out a win in such circumstances will remind the players that not every game can be won by hammering the opposition.

With one of Brendan Rodgers’ sides early victims (to such a hammering) arriving at Anfield on Sunday afternoon, the reminder could not be more timely as Spurs are likely to be out for revenge. Rodgers will only hope that his team have learned their lesson about letting the pressure that goes with the clubs’ first title challenge in 5 years get the better of them and, once again, put Tottenham to the sword.