Jurgen Klopp has urged Liverpool to ignore any talk that history could repeat itself when Chelsea visit Anfield on Sunday in a crucial afternoon in the Premier League title race.
The game comes five years after Steven Gerrard’s slip in a 2-0 home defeat to the Londoners gave Manchester City the advantage in the 2013-14 race.
City — who ended up beating Liverpool to the title that season — play Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park earlier on Sunday, meaning they could be back on top of the table before Liverpool kick off.
Asked about any similarities between the 2014 fixture and Sunday’s match, Klopp told a news conference: “I’m not sure that’s on anyone’s mind apart from you.
“I didn’t think for a second about it. I can tell all the fans to ignore it — it’s nothing to do with us. It’s a completely new story, it’s all about the game on Sunday, and it has nothing to do with the game before.
“Anyone who wants to talk to any of my players about what happened — don’t do it. We want to write our own history. If you do that then you can only build on the positives of the past, learn from the negatives of the past, try to avoid the mistakes of the past because that only leads to one direction.”
Simon Mignolet is the only Liverpool player to have started against Chelsea in 2014 still at the club, with Jordan Henderson having missed the match through suspension while Mohamed Salah was playing for Chelsea.
“Only the colours and the names of the teams are the same, pretty much,” Klopp said. “I am completely positive about the game.”
Leaders Liverpool have 82 points, two ahead of second-placed City, who have a game in hand.
“We are trying to keep this dream alive, and at the moment it’s all good. But Chelsea are a really difficult team and they are in a good moment,” Klopp said.
“Our previous form means nothing. They want three points and we have a job to do. But we will try to use the fan power and give them a boost by things we do on the pitch.
“I feel the positive energy [from the supporters]. It’s a massive change from surprise — we’re up there, getting used to it and getting more confident.”
Meanwhile, Klopp hit out at the Chelsea fans filmed singing a derogatory chant about Salah ahead of their Europa League game at Slavia Prague on Thursday.
The Liverpool manager called their behaviour “disgusting” and said they should be hit with life bans.
Information from Reuters was used in this report