Jamie Carragher believes Manchester Metropolis have the benefit within the Premier League title race regardless of being susceptible to counter-attacks.
Guardiola’s facet are unbeaten this season and are second within the Premier League, one level behind leaders Liverpool after eight video games.
Final season’s runner-up Arsenal misplaced 0-2 to Bournemouth and suffered their first defeat of the season. Arteta’s staff fell 4 factors behind the highest spot.
The Gunners face Liverpool on the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, stay sky sports activitiesHowever earlier than that sport, Metropolis may transfer prime of the desk with a house win over winless Southampton on Saturday – with Carragher believing the Championship facet stay favorites to win a fifth successive Premier League title.
he instructed sky sports activities information: “I nonetheless suppose Manchester Metropolis have a bonus over Liverpool definitely. Perhaps solely Arsenal.
“You modify your thoughts each week, do not you due to the outcomes? However I nonetheless suppose Metropolis are the staff to beat – and Liverpool and Arsenal, you’ll be able to flip a coin.”
‘Cities are susceptible to counterattack’
Nevertheless, Carragher does consider the defending champions are susceptible to a counterattack this season after Rodri suffered a season-ending damage.
Metropolis have stored only one clear sheet within the league this season and conceded a counter-attack aim in opposition to Wolves of their most up-to-date sport, whereas giving up a number of Fulham probabilities in transition.
“I feel they do look extra susceptible to counter-attacks,” Carragher mentioned. “That is all the time the way it hurts Metropolis as a result of they’ve a lot possession.
“The one means you’ll be able to actually rating or damage them is from set items and counterattacks.
“I feel lacking Rodri will damage them. I feel it would damage them much more within the Champions League, if you get to the quarter-finals and semi-finals you play in opposition to higher-level opponents. They could really feel slightly extra then.
“I nonetheless suppose they will win the league with out Rodri although he is among the prime gamers within the Premier League.”
‘January will likely be fascinating for Liverpool’
The Reds beat Chelsea 2-1 at Anfield on Sunday and Manchester Metropolis moved one level behind Liverpool to regain prime spot after defeating Wolves.
Arne Slott turned the primary Liverpool supervisor to win 10 of his first 11 video games and the Reds received off to a dynamic begin regardless of signing only one first-team participant for the season in the summertime.
Carragher believes his former membership will signal him in January in the event that they qualify for the Championship.
“They labored very laborious,” he mentioned [to win the Premier League title]similar to final season. We must always not neglect this.
“They have not strengthened but. It will likely be actually fascinating to see if Liverpool carry anybody in in January. They did not usher in many gamers in the summertime.
“In the event that they suppose they’ve a practical likelihood of profitable the title and there is a participant that matches their standards, their mannequin, I feel they will spend cash to carry that participant in.”
Carla: Arsenal’s purple card problem ‘should cease as quickly as potential’
Arsenal, Manchester Metropolis’s closest challengers over the previous two seasons, obtained their third purple card of the season after William Saliba was despatched off in opposition to Bournemouth.
Carragher insists the Gunners’ disciplinary points should be addressed if they’re to win a primary Premier League title in 21 years.
Requested whether or not Arsenal’s disciplinary points may break their possibilities of profitable the league, he replied: “Sure, if it does not cease. It has to cease as quickly as potential.”
“It is actually unhealthy to get three purple playing cards within the first eight video games of the season. They might really feel a bit laborious on sure points however once I take into consideration all of the circumstances they deserved it. I do not suppose so.” I do not suppose they may actually argue a lot, and it price them.
“You consider the place they had been in. When the purple card got here they had been beating Brighton at residence, when the purple card got here they had been beating Manchester Metropolis away and so they had been degree at Bournemouth.”
“So that they misplaced each sport they had been in, 11 in opposition to 11. That is a giant drawback.”
Carragher added monday night time soccer: “This has to cease. You are speaking a few staff at Manchester Metropolis who’re three factors forward [of Arsenal] – You may’t let somebody like this depart you.
“You have a look at Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool, they will nonetheless win video games on this scenario. So you must ask your self the set-up Arsenal have on this scenario – are they doing the appropriate factor tactically?”
Watch Arsenal v Liverpool on Sky Sports activities Premier League stay on Sunday at 4pm; kick-off 4.30pm.