Jamie Carragher has claimed Liverpool's free-scoring nature within the final third could give Jurgen Klopp's side a 'slight edge' in their Premier League title battle with Manchester City.
The Sky Blues sit top of the table at present, leading the Reds by a single point with five matches remaining. In both matches against Liverpool this campaign, City were made to rue missed opportunities after being held to 2-2 draws home and away.
Much was made at the start of the season about the lack of attacking presence on show at the Etihad Stadium, having failed to land top target Harry Kane during the summer transfer window. The likes of Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden have acted as effective false nine options, though there is a real sense of a missed opportunity for the reigning champions in this department.
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Liverpool are currently on course to outscore City in a Premier League season for the first time since 2012/13, and Carragher is of the view that the difference between the two teams in attack could have the final say on who prevails as title winners.
Reviewing statistics on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football which highlighted the Reds' average goals per game rate of 2.6 compared to City's 2.4 and superior xG (expected goals) of 2.62 to 2.53, the Bootle-born defender said: "This is where Liverpool have the slight edge, when you look at the goals per game. Liverpool have scored 85 goals, Man City have 80.
"When you're talking about not having a striker, the goals are still absolutely phenomenal for Man City. The xG per game shows that Liverpool still have the edge and if you go lower to the top goalscorers, City's is De Bruyne on 11 and Salah has 22 - there's a big difference.
"They spread the goals a bit more around the team at Man City, but those numbers show Liverpool have the big advantage in attack. The real stat that stands out to me is 'games failed to score in': four for Man City. For Liverpool, it is only one.
"And games where Man City have only scored one goal [seven], there have been 11 games this season where they have either scored one goal or zero. If you think Man City are going to drop points, it must be from a 0-0. There has been evidence of that this season in games we've seen."
