Carragher's Take on Premier League Title Race: Arsenal and City Ahead
Jamie Carragher has drawn a hard line through the optimism swirling around Old Trafford – and taken Liverpool with it.
In the aftermath of Manchester United’s pulsating 3-2 win over Liverpool at Old Trafford, the former Reds defender named just two clubs he believes can realistically win the Premier League next season. Neither of them were on the pitch on Sunday.
For Carragher, the title remains a straight shootout between Arsenal and Manchester City.
United’s surge, Liverpool’s slide – but no title belief
The game itself felt like a turning point. Arne Slot’s Liverpool, already enduring a bruising campaign, fell 2-0 behind to their fiercest rivals before clawing their way back through Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo. The comeback looked to have broken United’s momentum.
Then Kobbie Mainoo stepped up.
The 19-year-old’s composed 77th-minute finish sealed a statement victory, secured United’s Champions League return and all but locked in third place. Six points clear of fourth-placed Liverpool with three games to go, United have turned a chaotic season into something that looks, on paper, like progress.
Gary Neville certainly sees it that way. On his podcast, the Old Trafford great argued that the title could be “up for grabs over the next one or two years” and that United are edging towards that conversation.
Carragher doesn’t buy it.
Asked whether Liverpool or United are better placed to challenge for the Premier League next season, he sided with his old club – but only up to a point.
“I still think Liverpool are better-placed and the reason I say that is we’ve seen Man United’s best team out there today,” he said on The Gary Neville podcast. Liverpool, he argued, are “three or four short” but still have something United lack: players who have already climbed the mountain and won the biggest trophies.
Even so, he drew a clear red line.
“I don’t think either of them will be there in terms of the title next season. I still think it will be Arsenal or Manchester City.”
‘False economy’ at Old Trafford
Carragher’s scepticism goes deeper than one result. He sees United’s league position as flattering.
“There’s a false economy with Manchester United when they haven’t played any European football and they went out in the first round of both cup competitions,” he said.
United’s lighter schedule has removed the midweek strain that usually exposes flaws in a squad. The league table shows third place; Carragher sees something else entirely.
“Now that can fool you. Man United will finish third this season but I don’t think for a minute believe they’re the third-best team in the Premier League.”
Liverpool, in his view, still possess a stronger base once injuries clear and experience returns to the fore.
“I still think Liverpool are in a better position in terms of the squad when the injured players get back and having those players that have won trophies before.”
Better placed than United, then. Just not better than the two machines already dictating the top of the table.
Neville’s warning – and Guardiola’s shadow
Neville, looking at the same landscape, sees opportunity rather than illusion. For him, the next two summers – and the next two transfer windows – will decide who can step into the vacuum when Pep Guardiola finally walks away.
“There’s a couple of real unknowns,” he said. “The managers and which club is going to recruit the best this summer.
“Both are going to sign three or four. But how much money do the clubs have to spend money on recruitment?”
Neville believes the league “could be up for grabs over the next couple of years” and that United could be in position to “exploit that”, especially once Guardiola departs and with other big clubs still searching for stability.
“At some point, Pep has to leave. And I don’t think the other big clubs aren’t quite right. There is a league title up to grabs over the next one to two years.”
Carragher’s response is effectively this: not yet, not for these two.
Arsenal and City set the standard
While Liverpool and United debate who is closer to the summit, Arsenal and Manchester City are still the ones clinging to the rock face.
Mikel Arteta’s side swept aside Fulham 3-0 on Saturday, opening up a six-point lead at the top. City, though, still have two games in hand, starting with Everton on Monday night. The margins are thin, the pressure suffocating.
Arsenal are chasing their first Premier League crown since 2004, still trying to turn promise into proof. City have already done it six times in the last eight years, a relentless run that has reshaped what a title challenge looks like.
United, back in the Champions League and briefly buoyant after felling Liverpool, head into next weekend’s league meeting with Sunderland with a sense of resurgence. Liverpool, preparing to host Chelsea at Anfield, are left to salvage pride and plan another rebuild under Slot.
For Carragher, though, the picture at the very top barely changes. Arsenal and City remain the benchmark. Everyone else, including his old club and their oldest enemy, are still chasing their shadows.
