Jamie Carragher: Man Metropolis have edge in Premier League title race however are susceptible to counter-attack | Soccer Information

Jamie Carragher believes Manchester Metropolis have the sting within the Premier League title race regardless of their vulnerability to counter-attacks.

Pep Guardiola’s aspect are unbeaten this season and sit second within the Premier League, one level behind leaders Liverpool after eight video games.

Final season’s runners-up Arsenal suffered their first lack of the season in a 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth, which has left Mikel Arteta’s aspect 4 factors off the highest.

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The Gunners host Liverpool on the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, dwell on Sky Sports activities, however earlier than that sport Metropolis may go prime with victory at house over winless Southampton on Saturday – and Carragher feels the champions stay favourites to say a fifth straight Premier League title.

He informed Sky Sports activities Information: “I nonetheless suppose Manchester Metropolis, indisputably, have an edge on Liverpool. And possibly simply Arsenal, perhaps.

“You change your mind every week, don’t you on the back of results, but I still think City are the team to beat – and Liverpool and Arsenal, you can flip a coin.”

‘Metropolis susceptible to counter-attack’

Carragher, nonetheless, does really feel the reigning champions are prone to counter-attacks this marketing campaign following the season-ending damage to Rodri.

Metropolis have solely stored one clear sheet within the league this season and conceded a counter-attack purpose of their latest win over Wolves, whereas giving up a number of probabilities to Fulham on the transition.

“I think they do look a little bit more vulnerable to the counter-attack,” Carragher stated. “That is at all times the best way to harm Manchester Metropolis, as a result of they’ve a lot possession.

“The only way you can really score or hurt them is set-pieces and on the counter-attack.

“I believe lacking Rodri will harm them. I believe it’s going to harm them extra within the Champions League, while you’re taking part in higher-class opposition while you get into the quarter-finals and semi-finals. That is when they might really feel it slightly bit extra.

“I still think they can win the league without Rodri, even though he’s one of the top players in the Premier League.”

‘January will probably be fascinating for Liverpool’

Metropolis sit a degree behind Liverpool after the Reds beat Chelsea on Sunday 2-1 at Anfield to regain prime spot following Metropolis’s victory at Wolves.

Arne Slot turned the primary Liverpool boss to win 10 of his first 11 video games, with the Reds’ electrical begin coming regardless of solely signing one first-team participant for this season in the summertime.

Carragher believes his former aspect will make a signing in January if they’re within the working for the title.

He stated: “They’re very much pushing [to win the Premier League title], as they were last season. We shouldn’t forget that.

“They have not bolstered. It’s going to be actually fascinating to see if Liverpool do carry anybody in in January. They did not carry an excessive amount of in in the summertime.

“And if they think they’ve got a realistic chance at the title and there’s a player that they feel fits their criteria, their model, I think they’ll pay the money to bring that player in.”

Carra: Arsenal’s crimson card challenge ‘has to cease rapidly’

Metropolis’s closest challengers for the final two seasons, Arsenal, acquired their third crimson card of the season after William Saliba’s sending-off within the Bournemouth defeat.

Carragher insists the Gunners’ disciplinary points should be resolved if they’re to elevate their first Premier League title in 21 years.

Requested whether or not Arsenal’s disciplinary issues will wreck their possibilities of profitable the league, he replied: “Yes, if it doesn’t stop. It has to stop quickly.

“To get three crimson playing cards within the first eight video games of the season is admittedly poor. They could really feel slightly bit onerous completed by on sure points, however after I take a look at all of the conditions, they’re deserved crimson playing cards. I do not suppose they may actually argue an excessive amount of, and it is price them.

“You consider the positions they discovered themselves in. They had been beating Brighton at house when the crimson card comes, they had been beating Manchester Metropolis away when the crimson card comes, and it was degree at Bournemouth.

“So they’ve dropped points in all the games from the situation that they found themselves in, 11 v 11. It’s a huge problem.”

Carragher added on Monday Evening Soccer: “This has got to stop. You’re talking about a team in Manchester City that are already three points ahead [of Arsenal] – you can’t afford to let someone like that get away from you.

“You take a look at Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool and so they can nonetheless win video games in that scenario. So you need to ask your self about Arsenal’s set-up in these conditions – is it proper tactically how they are going about it?”

Watch Arsenal vs Liverpool dwell on Sky Sports activities Premier League from 4pm on Sunday; kick-off 4.30pm.