Liverpool legend Steve Nicol believes that while the Reds are showing signs of panicking in games, Manchester City are calm and collected.
Jurgen Klopp’s men secured a late 3-1 win over Southampton at St Mary’s on Friday to edge themselves ahead of Manchester City in the race for the Premier League title.
The Reds conceded as early as the ninth minute through Shane Long before Naby Keita restored parity for the visitors in the 36th minute to enter the half time interval on equal terms with Saints.
Despite their best efforts in the second half, Liverpool had to wait nervously before securing a late win through goals from Mohamed Salah and Jordan Henderson, who came off the bench to spur the Reds to the top of the table.
Nicol, who won the league title with Liverpool, is concerned about how the Reds are showing signs of panicking if they do not kill games off early, which will eventually come back to bite them.
“If Liverpool don’t settle down in games like this [against Southampton] and play their football early and get the game done and dusted with, they’re going to be on panic mode for the rest of the season”, Nicol said on the ESPN FC show.
“You saw Jordan Henderson after he scored, that’s nervous energy if you have ever seen it and you can’t keep relying on that.
“If you’re running on nervous energy, eventually your legs go, your strength will disappear and everybody is panicking.”
Nicol thinks that Liverpool stand in sharp contrast to title rivals Manchester City, who are cool and calm in their chase for the crown.
“You look across at Manchester City, it’s the complete and utter opposite.
"They are sailing along, just making sure games are done and dusted nice and early, there’s plenty of control and everybody is calm”, he continued.
“That will make a difference come the end of the season.”
Manchester City, who secured a place in the final of the FA Cup on Saturday, have a game in hand on Liverpool in the Premier League.
