Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho claims Steven Gerrard is on the slide ahead of Liverp

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Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho claims Steven Gerrard is on the slide ahead of Liverpool clash
 
 JOSE MOURINHO lit the blue touch paper ahead of Chelsea's grudge match with Liverpool today by taunting Steven Gerrard - twice!
 
 First he claimed the Reds skipper cost his side the title last season with his infamous slip against Chelsea at Anfield in April.
 
 Then he insisted he had no regrets about failing to sign the midfielder and says he is not interested in the 34-year-old any more - even on a free transfer.
 
 Gerrard's mistake in the fixture last season let in Demba Ba to score for an under-strength Blues side in their 2-0 win after which Liverpool's title challenge crumbled.
 
 Mourinho said: "It gave the title to Man City, as simple as that.
 
 "Liverpool, with a point in that match, would have been champions. Without it, they lost the title.
 
 "It meant nothing to us. That match, for us, meant just professional pride. You have to go for every game and try to win, but we were not in the race."
 
 Mourinho twice tried to sign Gerrard in his previous spell as Chelsea boss in 2005 and then the following year.
 
 But asked whether he had any regrets about failing to get him, the Blues boss said: "No. It was a long time ago."
 
 And he delivered another snub when asked whether he would like to take the former England skipper on a free when his contract runs out next summer, saying: "No. "How long can he still play? I don't know."
 
 Mourinho, who confirmed top scorer Diego Costa will start tomorrow, also claims he is not surprised by Liverpool's disastrous start to the season.
 
 Liverpool are seventh after four defeats and staring down the barrel in the Champions League, while Chelsea are top and unbeaten in the Premier League.
 
 Mourinho said: "In the Premier League I'm not surprised with anything. Every match is difficult.
 
 "Obviously they lost a very good player in Luis Suarez, and when you lose good players you lose something.
 
 "But they have fantastic funds to invest in a new squad. They improved it a lot, buying so many players. They're fighting for the title the same as we are."
 
 Former Reds star Suarez took aim at Mourinho's negative tactics the last time the teams met in his new book.
 
 He claimed a Chelsea player admitted having misgivings about his side's time-wasting antics in that game.
 
 But Mourinho said: "Did you read it? I don't. I have an invitation to do a book.
 
 "But not a book to tell 's**t' and to criticise people and to speak negative things about people who belong to my career."