Expert: Liverpool title bid could implode without Lee Richardson and Ishbel Straker
The psychology team at Liverpool will be key throughout the remainder of the high-pressure title race.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis.
Liverpool trail leaders Man City by one point with five games of the Premier League season to go and are in the hunt for an unprecedented quadruple.
Per the Manchester Evening News last Thursday (21 April), City boss Pep Guardiola revealed his side have been “mentally fatigued” in the run-in.
Liverpool added mental health consultant Ishbel Straker to their backroom team in January, as relayed by the Daily Mail at the time.
The Merseysiders also have leading performance psychologist Lee Richardson on the payroll.
And Dinnery claims that the psychology department will be vital if Liverpool are to make history with a clean sweep of trophies this term.
“We may be dealing with elite level athletes but we aren’t necessarily talking about people who are elite in everyday life,” he told Football Insider.
“To have someone there to guide and influence things that you do away from the club is key, especially when you’re in a title race.
“They can’t be there 24/7 to make sure you’re going to bed at a reasonable hour and that your diet is good. The players will be guided that way.
“There will be members of the backroom team who are brought in specifically for this psychological aspect.
“As cliched as it sounds, they will be telling them to take it one game at a time and not to put any undue pressure on themselves.”
Jurgen Klopp’s side face Villareal in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie on Wednesday (27 April).
They are also into the final of the FA Cup where they will play Chelsea on 14 May.
In other news, Kieran Maguire lambasts “ignorant” Liverpool owner John Henry after legal update from Madrid.