Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard suggested for the first time that his side were naive in their tactical approach to the crucial game against Chelsea in the final weeks of the 2013-14 season, while adding that his slip that led to Demba Ba's goal was a "cruel" blow personally.
Liverpool were in pole position to win their first Premier League title until they lost 2-0 against Jose Mourinho's Blues in April 2014, which allowed Manchester City to seize control of the title race.
In an interview conducted by ex-Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand with BT Sport that will be broadcast on Wednesday at 10pm, Gerrard insisted he did not blame Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers for the defeat, but he suggested his side's approach invited Chelsea to ruin their title ambitions.
"I think about that game against Chelsea with the slip and I think our tactical approach was probably inexperienced for the whole game," Gerrard stated.
"Going out to try and blow Chelsea away. A lot of teams we played prior to that game were blowing them away comfortably. [Luiz] Suarez and [Daniel] Sturridge were on fire. [Raheem] Sterling was coming in. I was in good form myself and we got to the Man City game and we were in front and controlling it.
"We were on the back foot and we managed to get over the line. We put that much into the game, the initial huddle after the game was just sheer emotion.
"Also, being in a position where we felt like it was ours and we were playing that well I sort of just felt like it was the right time to have a huddle and just remind the players the team that we've got a lot of hard work to do.
"So the atmosphere was obviously great at that time. Going into the Chelsea game, I think because we were in a good run and good form and no fault to Brendan at all, but we sort of went in with the same tactics, you know?
"We heard Chelsea possibly making a few changes and we actually have the confidence we can blow them away but I think sort of underestimated the power of Mourinho. He came and he spoilt the game. He ruined it. He had them very hard to beat. He had all the units.
"He spoilt the game and he even said after he was quoted we came to spoil the party. The slip happened at a bad time, it was cruel for me personally."
Gerrard admitted the slip that led to Chelsea's opening goal in the decisive game continues to haunt him, as he concedes the pain of the title failure is the biggest regret of his career.
"There's not a day that doesn't go by that I don't think about what if that didn't happen," Gerrard continued.
"Would things have been different? Would it have turned out different? Maybe, I don't know.
"Even still, it happened after half an hour and we still had the time to get the draw we needed.
"The inexperience showed from myself having not been in many title races and the inexperience of the team.
"Our reaction was to go chase it and hunt it down and try and make up for that cruel moment and we lost our way. We went gung-ho instead of being more controlled and maybe just being a little bit more calculated in the way we went about it for the equaliser."
Gerrard went on to concede the abuse he has attracted in the 13 months since Liverpool's near miss in the title race has tested his resolve, with the disappointment from the Premier League title failure continuing to haunt him as he prepares to start his career with LA Galaxy on July 1st.
"I think you've got to be thick skinned and take a bit of criticism along the way," he added.
"I'm not scared of any criticism or any cruelty I understand the moment and impact it had it kills me, don't get me wrong, inside it kills me and it will do for a long time.
"I think to myself if I'd have got that league it would have been the icing on the cake. But what helps me with it is that I've got the cake. I've achieved a lot of dreams with a team that has never ever been the favourite.
"I've had some incredible moments from a young kid on a council estate. I've got memories, good memories that will live with me forever, but that one moment will always hurt me until the day I go. [Without that defeat] I'd have achieved every dream with Liverpool. And as a man it hurts."