Liverpool news: Rio Ferdinand ‘sensed nerves’ at Anfield as Reds failed to move clear of Manchester City in title race

Rio Ferdinand thought Liverpool players looked ‘nervous’ during their 1-1 draw with Leicester.

The former Manchester United defender watched as the Reds blew a chance to go seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Manchester City’s loss to Newcastle the day before put the Reds in the driving seat, but Jurgen Klopp’s side failed to capitalise.

“The only slight worry I would have is I sense a nervousness and a team sitting there passing the buck at times,” Ferdinand told BT Sport.

“That is something Klopp will have to address. You don’t want to see nerves at this stage, this is early.”

Sadio Mane gave Liverpool an early lead at Anfield, but Harry Maguire equalised.

“I think they looked nervous, the crowd were nervous and it fed into the players,” Ferdinand added.

Klopp thought his side were denied a penalty when Naby Keita was brought down by Leicester full-back Ricardo Pereira in the 57th minute, while he also thought Mane was denied a clear goal scoring chance by Maguire.

Ferdinand, though, said the manager will just have to get used to big decisions going against them, just like he had to when winning multiple titles with United.

“We lost a title one time for a handball or an offside, its part and parcel of it,” he explained.

“I like VAR, but I like the element of human error. You have to take the good with the bad,” he added, joking that those decisions still keep him up at night.

Earlier, Ferdinand had joked he would hide in his trophy room if Liverpool eventually win a first league title since 1990.