Following the 2-2 draw at Aston Villa on Wednesday night, Liverpool are now eight points ahead of Arsenal, although they have played one more game.
The Reds’ recent performances have been unconvincing, with draws at Villa and Everton and a narrow win over Wolves, and they face a significant challenge when they visit the Etihad on Sunday. ..Continue Reading
Despite recent performances, Arne Slot’s team is still favored to win the title, partly due to Arsenal’s unfortunate injury woes, particularly in their attack.
Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are out for the season, while Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are still sidelined, forcing Mikel Arteta to use defensive midfielder Mikel Merino as a striker in their last game – which proved effective.
Carragher believes Arteta would appreciate having one of Liverpool’s forwards in his squad but also admits that he wished Slot had signed an additional defender in January to secure the title.
‘Whoever falls short this season will be asking themselves if they could have done a little more in the summer and January transfer windows,’ the Liverpool legend wrote in his Telegraph column.
‘It is sure to dominate the post-season discussion at Anfield and the Emirates if there are just a few points between first and second. I am not convinced either club truly grasped the nettle with recruitment to maximise their chances.
‘Arsenal supporters have been concerned since the start of the year that they do not have the necessary firepower. How Arteta must wish he had someone of the calibre of Cody Gakpo in his squad, the Dutchman’s 16 goals in this campaign going under the radar.
‘For Liverpool, I have been banging the drum about the need for defensive reinforcement and wish they had a full-back like Jurrien Timber.
‘The recent injuries to Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley leave Slot short of cover, but he still has his first-choice back four to select – a contrast to Arsenal’s injury problems up front.’
Timber missed practically all of last campaign with injury but has been a key player for Arsenal this season, playing in every position across the backline.
Injuries to Gomez and Bradley mean Alexander-Arnold is the only senior right-back at Liverpool as they look to win the Premier League and Champions League.
City may not pose as much of a threat as previous seasons, but Carragher believes that should Liverpool triumph on Sunday, the title is almost certainly theirs, adding: ‘Beat Manchester City at the Etihad and win the title.
‘It sounds more straightforward than it is, and no one will be making such a wildly premature declaration if Arne Slot is celebrating an away win on Sunday night, but history informs us that victory in this fixture can be the difference between being champions and runners-up.
‘Jürgen Klopp would have won two more titles with victories at the Etihad in 2019 and 2022. Mikel Arteta would have been marking the end of Arsenal’s 20-year wait to add to Arsène Wenger’s Premier League triumphs with an away win last season.’
