Harry Diamond
Jamie Carragher says Manchester City ‘are a massive example’ to Liverpool and has identified three positions the champions need to strengthen as they look to rebuild.
Liverpool’s title defence has faltered this season amid a number of injuries to key players and a series of poor performances, the Reds hopes of retaining their Premier League crown looking increasingly distant following a 4-1 defeat to Manchester City last weekend.
Jurgen Klopp’s side now find themselves 10 points behind the league leaders having played a game more and have struggled to replicate the standards that saw them win the Champions League and Premier League over the past two campaigns.
Carragher has outlined why he feels the levels have dropped for his former side and believes the squad needs fresh new additions following the relentless demands placed on the players in recent seasons.
“This is a team who have gone to the well and produced unbelievable moments and trophies for this club, which is why I find it a little bit hard to be too critical of this team,” Carragher said on Monday Night Football.
“They just haven’t stopped for three years. That’s why I say they need a little bit of help.
“They need three players. A centre back, someone to replace (Georginio) Wijnaldum and someone to come in for the front three.”
Carragher pointed to the example of Manchester City who struggled to keep pace with the Reds last season, the performances of Pep Guardiola’s side dropping significantly after winning back-to-back championships in 2018 and 2019.
City finished 18 points adrift of the champions after losing nine league games, before responding this term to emerge as the odds-on favourites to reclaim the title.
“Man City are a massive example for Liverpool. Man City lost nine league games last season and look at them now. That can easily happen for Liverpool,” he added.
“What Man City are doing now should be an example that it is not the end of the world and they can come back next season.”
Carragher believes a lack of squad depth has hindered Liverpool’s ability to push on once more, admitting Jurgen Klopp does not have the options available to leave out his key players and still pick up results.
“The reason people can be critical is say Jurgen doesn’t rotate,” Carragher said. “Liverpool don’t have the quality and strength in depth at back up. They wouldn’t have won those trophies if he rotated.
“[Sir Alex] Ferguson used to give the United lads a month off, [Arsene] Wenger too. But Liverpool couldn’t afford it because Man City were that good, they couldn’t lose a game. That was the position they found themselves in. We will see next season if they will be back.”
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