Thursday 14 February 2019 12:22, UK
Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge believes there is less pressure on the current generation to win silverware than faced by previous teams.
Aldridge won the Division One title and FA Cup during his two-and-a-half season spell with the Reds, before moving on to Real Sociedad in 1989-90 - the last season Liverpool won the league.
The current squad are well placed to end the club's 29-year wait for the title; Jurgen Klopp's side are level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, with a game in hand.
John Barnes has dismissed claims Liverpool are struggling with the pressure of the title race and Aldridge believes the weight of expectation at Anfield is less than when he played for the club.
"There is ridiculous hype because it is Liverpool and it's all these years we haven't won the Premier League," he said.
"There is a lot of interest worldwide, with the fan base Liverpool have, but I can't believe there is so much talk with January only just finished - it's crazy to be quite honest.
"They are doing all right at the moment: they had a little bit of a blip and have a few injuries to contend with. You talk about pressure now, we had pressure every season - 60s, 70s, 80s - every season to win it.
"The pressure was on the team to do the business and we did an awful lot. Season-in, season-out. Retaining it. That was a different type of pressure.
"We have always had expectations, we expected it every single season: silverware, silverware, silverware. For us not to win a cup in a season was ridiculous because the standards were raised.
"You have to keep on winning, although it's virtually impossible to win your last 12 games or so but it's not improbable where City are and where Liverpool have been this season.
"City raised the bar massively last season, Liverpool have raised their bar and are keeping up with them at the moment."
Liverpool can return to the top of the league if they avoid defeat against bitter rivals Manchester United on February 24 and Aldridge has urged the squad to relish the title run-in.
"Just enjoy it and see it through," he said. "Enjoy getting top and staying top of the league. The manager is saying all the right things so go out and have the will to win every game.
"Keep on believing in yourselves. Togetherness will keep them there."
