Carragher and Neville disagree on title winner but share same Liverpool concern
Jamie Carragher believes Manchester City will "win the league comfortably this season", claiming Liverpool are "not quite ready" to challenge for the title and Arsenal are not playing as well as they did last season.
Pep Guardiola's side are currently third in the Premier League, just two points behind top of the table Tottenham, following their dominant 3-0 win over rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. City have won the league five times in the last six years under Guardiola and Carragher is backing them to lift the trophy once again this season.
"I've got the feeling with City, when I was coming up against Gary [Neville] and Roy [Keane], where even if Manchester United in years go by weren't top at this stage, it's almost if they are getting ready for the second half of the season," Carragher said on Sky Sports after the derby.
"That today, a big game, put on a show to let people know how good they are, they are still the team to beat. I think they'll win the league comfortably this season, I do! I don't think Liverpool are quite ready to mount a serious challenge.
"Arsenal, of course did that last season. Even though they've made a good start, I don't think they are playing as well as this time last season, so I don't think everything is 100 percent there."
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Before the start of the season, Carragher also tipped City to win the league, highlighting striker Erling Haaland as a huge point of difference. "I look at Pep Guardiola and I'm not sure he's ever had a season off, where his team have not got around 90 points or above," he said on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football back in August.
Jamie Carragher believes Manchester City will "comfortably" win the league this season (Getty Images)"He's that intense. So I don't see them dropping off. I think someone's got to go above them in terms of getting to their level. I think that's just a bridge too far for the other teams. Arsenal have recruited well but I still just look at Haaland and I don't think Arsenal have got anyone in that category."
Fellow Sky pundit Gary Neville has similar concerns over Liverpool's title challenge, believing that when all is said and done, they will fall short. Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast last month, he said: “I think Liverpool are obviously involved in it as well. They could [have the legs to go all the way], they’re more likely to than Spurs, no doubt about that.
He added: “My question mark is whether they’ve got enough solidity in midfield, enough defensive strength and power. So I don’t think Liverpool will quite get there, but they’re in the race, there’s no doubt, because of the manager. Their manager is absolutely outstanding, he’s one of the best. But I think it will be Arsenal and City again come towards the end.”
Jamie Carragher has delivered his Premier League title prediction (Sky Sports)Instead, he is backing Arsenal to end their long title drought which will be 20 years at the end of the season. "I'm banking on three things for Arsenal," Neville explained. "Post-treble, [ Manchester City ] have a little bit of a [drop off].
"The difficulties over a season when you're playing in Super Cups, Club World Cups. They haven't got the biggest squad. With Haaland, last season he only missed three matches. If he was to miss 10 or 15, like he did at Borussia Dortmund, I think that would be enough to give Arsenal a real chance."
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