Carragher declares Man City’s title bid over after Liverpool defeat

Jamie Carragher declared Manchester City's Premier League title defense complete after Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Liverpool.

City fell 11 points behind leaders Liverpool after Pep Guariola's side suffered their fourth consecutive top-flight loss, an unwanted performance they have not suffered since 2008.

Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah were on target at Anfield, giving Arne Slot an 18th win from his first 20 games in charge of the Reds in all competitions.

Former Liverpool defender Carragher insisted there is no way back for Guardiola's defending champions in their quest to retain the crown for a fifth consecutive season.

“Manchester City will not win the Premier League this season,” Carragher told Sky Sports. 'I don't think there is a way back.

“It's almost a mini-crisis for Manchester City, and I think it's reminiscent of Liverpool two years ago. I actually think Man City might have a battle for the top four.

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

4 – Manchester City have lost four consecutive Premier League games for the first time since August 2008. Meanwhile, this is the first time in Pep Guardiola's managerial career that he has lost four consecutive league matches. Not mapped. pic.twitter.com/4K53ky6Zo7

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 1, 2024

Guardiola held up six fingers to the home crowd, referring to every top-flight title he won, after “you'll be fired tomorrow morning” chants echoed around Anfield.

Carragher backed the former Barcelona boss for his decision to do so, saying: “He's putting the six fingers up, and rightly so.

“I think he's just driving home: 'Don't take what we've done for granted.' Maybe he's just sending a message to the hierarchy above him, to his own supporters there.”

City's defeat saw them drop to fifth in the table, following Chelsea's win over Aston Villa on Sunday and Arsenal's victory over West Ham 24 hours earlier.

As Guardiola's side continue to stumble, Carragher believes Chelsea and the Gunners will be Liverpool's main title challengers until the end of the season.

“He [Guardiola] must buy players. “If he can do that in January, who knows, but he may have to wait until the end of the season to solve the problem,” Carragher added.

“I look at the energy that Arsenal have and the energy that the young players at Chelsea have. I think it might be difficult for City to finish above them.”

City take on Nottingham Forest at home on Wednesday, hoping to get their season back on track against a side they have not lost to since the FA Cup defeat in January 2009.