Man City facing top-four fight after defeat to Liverpool, says Jamie Carragher

Jamie Carragher said Manchester City face a battle to finish in the top four after their 2-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday left them 11 points behind the Premier League leaders in fifth place.

City's fourth successive Premier League defeat extended their winless run to seven games in all competitions, with a first-half goal from Cody Gakpo and a second-half penalty from Mohamed Salah sealing a dominant victory for Arne Slot's side.

Pep Guardiola stuck six fingers up at the home fans, referring to his Premier League title wins, as they taunted him with chants such as: 'You're going to be sacked in the morning', but Carragher feels City are now out of the race. term and warned that they had to start looking over their shoulders.

“I don't see a way back for Manchester City,” Carragher told Sky Sports.

“Sometimes you have to lose so that people realize what you have done, so that you don't take it for granted. And maybe he sends a message to the hierarchy, the people above him and the fans.

“But Manchester City will not win the Premier League this season.”

Carragher highlighted their problems in midfield, where Rodri has been sidelined this season with a knee injury, and compared their situation to that of Liverpool during Jurgen Klopp's final years.

He added: “It's a mini-crisis for Manchester City. I think it's reminiscent of Liverpool two years ago.

“I actually think they might have a battle for the top four.

“I look at Arsenal, Chelsea and the way they look now and I think it will be difficult for Man City to finish above them if they don't come on the market in January.

“I go back a few years to the season when Man City won the treble. Liverpool went to the Etihad in April and were beaten 4-1. It could have been six or seven. They were totally battered and you had the feeling that it is the end of that Jürgen Klopp team.

“But what it was was the end of that midfield, of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho. No matter how good your manager is, you can't fix that.”

“I don't think Pep can fix City's midfield now. He has to buy players there. If he can do it in January, who knows, but he might have to wait until the end of the season.”

“Right now I see Man City losing another four or five games between now and the end of the season. I look at the energy of Chelsea and Arsenal and I think it will be difficult for City to finish above them. “

The defeat, which saw City overrun in the middle of the pitch, sees the team drop below Arsenal and Chelsea, who defeated West Ham and Aston Villa respectively at the weekend, as well as fourth-placed Brighton.

“Man City had Rico Lewis and Bernardo Silva in central midfield at one point in the second half,” Carragher continued. “I like Bernardo Silva. What a player. But he is not a central midfielder. Rico Lewis is a decent player, but it is not nearly enough.”

“Look what Arsenal and Chelsea have in central midfield, the energy, the strength. They can't compete with that at the moment, Man City.”

Keane: Never felt like Liverpool would lose

Roy Keane praised Liverpool's performance and highlighted the importance of their winning mentality under Slot. The win puts them nine points ahead of second-placed Arsenal.

“We have to commend manager Arne Slot because he is doing a fantastic job, but the squad he took over was quite a group,” said Keane.

“He added his personality to it. If you were told Liverpool would be in the position they are now, you wouldn't believe them.”

“Their performances, their defence, their big players turned up for the big occasion. They were terrible against Southampton but still scored three goals and won the game.”

“It never felt like Liverpool were losing today. It's a combination of decision-making and quality.

“Man City didn't show that intensity. Walker switches off for the first goal. At the moment all their players are just wide and so it's a perfect storm for their opponents.”

Carragher felt that Walker's role in Gakpo's opener reflected his decline into a “liability” for the champions.

“He can take himself out and that's always been the negative thing about him,” he said. “He stops looking and switches off.

“That has been a problem his entire career. That has nothing to do with his age.

“He has become a bit of a burden for Man City.”