Liverpool will struggle to win the Premier League after Swansea defeat, says Steven Gerrard as he suggests club struggle against 'lower teams'

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Steven Gerrard has admitted Liverpool might struggle to challenge Chelsea for the title after their loss against Swansea.

Jurgen Klopp's side were one of the early pacesetters in the Premier League but have fallen behind Antonio Conte's side since the start of November.

Their struggles since Sadio Mane joined Senegal for the African Cup of Nations has seen them win just once in 2017 - against League Two Plymouth Argyle - and on Saturday they suffered another painful defeat as they were beaten 3-2 by Swansea City.

Steven Gerrard believes Liverpool will struggle to win the Premier League this season

A dejected Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool lose to struggling Swansea on Saturday afternoon

That led to Liverpool icon Gerrard suggesting that Chelsea's gap at the top of the table might be insurmountable.  

Speaking on BT Sport, Gerrard said: 'It's going to be very difficult now they've left themselves a lot of work to do. 

'It's a 10-point gap if Chelsea win tomorrow. It's looking very difficult.'

The defeat to Swansea saw them continue a recent trend of struggling against the less favoured sides at Anfield.

Fernando Llorente scored twice for Swansea in the second-half as they ran out 3-2 winners

But Gerrard believes the habit stretches back to his own playing days in red.

'It's been like that a long time from when I played as well. When we got close on a couple of occasions the damaging results were usually against lower teams. 

'Liverpool will be stunned, you can tell by Jurgen Klopp's face, it's a big shock today that I'm sure before kick-off they would've seen it as a three-point game.'

And Klopp himself admitted to his disappointment, revealing he had 'no explanation' for Sigurdsson's late winner.  

Klopp admitted he had 'no explanation' for Gylfi Sigurdsson's late winning goal at Anfield

'If you go to the first half, in four or five moments it was like how it should be and in a few more moments it was like how we expected because We had to stay patient and create the moments when we could've scored. What we didn't have in the first half was the last punch.

'So at 0-0 we come out but then we lose one challenge and Llorente scores. It was too easy. The second goal we couldn't defend the cross and that's why you should avoid crosses as the ball is difficult in the air. These things happen.

'And then we came back played really good and deserved our goals. The most disappointing thing is their third goal though. I have no explanation for this, we had four or five opportunities to make a challenge but in the end one guy is free in our box. It makes no sense.'