Liverpool were written off by most analysts before the season start but their romp to the Premier League title has come thanks to what Jamie Carragher hinted would be vital last summer
A majority of pundits have been left red-faced by Liverpool’s romp to the Premier League title, with a host of pre-season predictions that Arne Slot ’s side would struggle to even secure one of the Champions League places.
And Jamie Carragher did not buck the trend by suggesting that Manchester City would be a tough nut to crack but Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal would run them closest.
No one could have foreseen in August what would happen to Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions but at a time when Liverpool were not getting a look-in from expert analysts, Carragher did correctly earmark what would be vital for Liverpool to have a chance – a reduction in the injuries faced by Jurgen Klopp during his final campaign in charge.
Carragher told Sky Sports : «I don’t think replacing Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool is the impossible job for Arne Slot. It was a great time for the club under Klopp but they didn’t win everything.
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«They were very successful at one stage where they did hold every trophy under Klopp, but it wasn’t a case of them winning every year. Most times they were a very close second to Manchester City.
«There is scope to improve for Slot. He can certainly improve the way they play slightly and also get better defensively. They will also want to avoid the number of injuries they had last season this time around. There are areas for the new manager to target.»
Making his pre-season prediction, Carragher added: «I have said I think Manchester City will win the league, but seeing what Arsenal have done over the last couple of seasons, it is a toss of a coin.
«Mikel Arteta’s side are that close and that good. The job he has done at the club has been fantastic and it’s been great to watch.»
But Liverpool have a 12-point lead over Arsenal with nine games to play while City are 22 points behind. Slot’s side have, however, been knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain and last weekend lost the Carabao Cup final to Newcastle United at Wembley.
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