Paul Ince has urged Liverpool’s players to get off social media if they wish to end the Reds’ long, long wait to be crowned champions of England.
Liverpool were knocked off top spot in the Premier League on Wednesday night, with Manchester City’s defeat of Everton moving them ahead of the Anfield club on goal difference.
The Reds do have a game in hand which, if they win, will send them three points clear in first, but many believe Jurgen Klopp’s side are starting to stutter now silverware is within their grasp.
Two successive 1-1 draws – against Leicester and West Ham – have dealt a real blow to Liverpool’s title hopes, and City are being backed to retain the Premier League trophy as their squad is full of players who have experience of winning the biggest competitions.
City won the league last season and this ‘been there, done that’ methodology gives the Etihad club the edge over Liverpool, whose players appear to be cracking at the first sign of pressure.
This pressure is increased with both media and fans discussing a potential Liverpool collapse, and former Liverpool midfielder Ince has urged Klopp’s players to tune out all the noise by staying off social media.
Ince, speaking exclusively to news.paddypower.com, said: “My advice to the players would be to try and focus now.
“If you can, try to turn off being constantly on social media, try to avoid a lot of the noise, get your head down and remember how you got to this stage.”
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Not only offering advice to Liverpool’s players, Ince also told the club’s supporters to relax when in the Anfield stands otherwise their anxiety affects those out on the pitch.
“Jurgen Klopp’s team has too much quality to fail now,” he continued, “this is their chance.
“The supporters can help them win the title, too. Liverpool fans are some of the best in the league, they’re unbelievable, but over the last couple of games at Anfield you can sense that the pressure is getting to them.
“They want to win the league desperately, but that anxiety then reflects on the pitch. You can sense how nervous the fans are, and when the fans are quiet the players are quiet.
“Heading into the title run-in, it’s as much down to the supporters to push the team on.”