Jamie Carragher names four things that will stop Liverpool beating Man City to Premier League title

Jamie Carragher has said Liverpool cannot challenge Manchester City for the title this season.

The Red dropped points for just the fourth time this season, when they drew 1-1 away to Luton Town on Sunday, with the hosts offering a repeated threat on the break at Kenilworth Road. Liverpool found it difficult to stop Luton’s advances, or cut through the Hatters’ low block.

That’s in contrast to City, who easily dispatched a relegation-threatened side on Saturday, as they beat Bournemouth 6-1. It was a weekend that perhaps highlighted the difference between the sides, and Carragher feels City’s ability to prevent counter attacks and create openings on possession gives them a real advantage in the title race.

“I think what Liverpool have had in the last 18 months, they’re a lot better at it this season, but they still are not as good as Manchester City in stopping counter attacks,” the former Liverpool defender said on Sky Sports. “People always think of Liverpool and how they play - pressing from the front, but Liverpool are a team that dominate possession and have a lot of the ball. 

“But they’re not quite as good as Manchester City on the ball so there are more turnovers and they lose the ball. Opponents find spaces a lot more to get in behind and attack Liverpool; Luton didn’t have the quality to really punish them, except for the goal.

Carragher also said Liverpool are lacking in two key positions: “Liverpool are improved in midfield on what we saw last season, but they still haven’t got a top holding midfield player - [Alexis] MacAlister is not a top holding midfield player,” he said. “He’s good on the ball in terms of receiving, but he finds it really tough defensively and lacks a little bit of pace for that position. I still think they can improve there.

“In the back four, I think they could do with, not a player for a specific position, but almost a great defender who can play in a couple of positions. They went with [Joe] Gomez today at left-back rather than [Kostos] Tsimikas, we thought he’d be stronger defensively.

“I still think Liverpool could maybe do with a similar player at right-back and release Trent [Alexander-Arnold] at different times, maybe into midfield and against certain opposition you maybe play someone there who is tougher and stronger defensively.

“I think Liverpool are not ready to win the league right now. I think Liverpool supporters and Jurgen Klopp know that. They want to get back into the top four, but in terms of challenge they need another midfielder and a top-class defender.”