Jamie Carragher has admitted the trophy he thinks Liverpool “will win” this season but has doubts over whether the side can achieve an unprecedented quadruple.
The Reds recorded a relatively comfortable 2-0 win over Villarreal in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday night. Following the victory, the attention of Jurgen Klopp’s side now turns towards Saturday’s trip to Newcastle as Liverpool continue to put pressure on league leaders Manchester City and strive for an unprecedented quadruple.
Having already lifted the Carabao Cup and reached the FA Cup final, the Reds remain just a point behind Pep Guardiola’s side in the title race. Liverpool legend Carragher has backed the club to lift their seventh European Cup but has insisted that the Premier League is City’s to lose.
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“I think Liverpool will win the Champions League,” Carragher told CBS Sports . “The league I’m not so sure, Manchester City have the slight advantage in that if they win all their games they’ve won the league.
“This weekend is absolutely vital in terms of the Premier League. That is a tough assignment for Liverpool, the turnaround hours wise the manager has mentioned.
“If Liverpool can get through this weekend still being in the same position they’re in with Manchester City, I still think they’ve got a great chance with the league but that’s up to Manchester City.
“But the Champions League, it feels like it’s Liverpool’s competition and they’ve got one foot in the final and I don’t think anyone else can say that. I think Madrid will go through (against Manchester City). When you miss that many chances in the first leg you have got a massive problem. It’s a big standout game.’
Though Carragher is unsure whether Liverpool will overturn City’s one point lead in the Premier League, the ex-defender has outlined the advantage that the Reds hold over their title rivals: "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,” he told Monday Night Football .
“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."
