Jamie Carragher insists Liverpool need to sign THREE new players to bounce back next season with title bid in tatters – as Anfield icon says Man City are a ‘massive example’ of how the Reds should respond to losing their champions’ crown
Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool need to sign three players to battle for honours next season as the Reds legend insisted Jurgen Klopp’s side can learn from Manchester City’s example in the wake of their humbling defeat at Anfield.
The Premier League champions saw their chances of retaining the title take a devastating blow on Sunday as Pep Guardiola’s side put in a stunning second half performance to leave Merseyside with all three points after a 4-1 victory.
City’s 10th league win on the trot means they have a 10-point advantage over Klopp’s side, as well as a game in hand, with fans and pundits confident that the Reds will not be able to close that gap in their remaining 15 games.
Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool need three new players to compete for the title again
The Reds’ title hopes took a devastating blow after losing 4-1 to Manchester City on Sunday
Liverpool have been plagued by injuries this campaign, with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Diogo Jota sidelined for lengthy spells, leading to considerably under-par displays from the champions.
And Carragher insisted that he finds it hard to be ‘too critical’ of Klopp’s side as the former defender stressed that Liverpool’s lack of freshness and strength in depth has inhibited them this season.
‘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,’ the Sky Sports pundit said after explaining that the side that lost on Sunday had very few new faces from the team that lost in the 2018 Champions League final.
‘They just haven’t stopped for three years. That’s why I say they need a little bit of help.
Jurgen Klopp has written off any notion of his side defending the Premier League title
And Carragher says that Liverpool’s jaded squad needs fresh legs to challenge once more
‘They need three players. A centre back, someone to replace (Georginio) Wijnaldum and someone to come in for the front three.’
While Liverpool’s attempt to defend their title is going out with a whimper, Carragher stressed that Klopp’s side can bounce back next season, and should take courage in how strongly Guardiola’s side have responded this campaign.
‘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 continued.
‘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.’
The former defender added that the Reds can take inspiration from City bouncing back
Carragher conceded that Klopp could be criticised for failing to rotate his squad well enough over the last two seasons, but added that the strength of City as a rival forced the German to play his strongest side whenever possible.
‘The reason people can be critical is say Jurgen doesn’t rotate,’ Carragher added. ‘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.’