Jamie Carragher claims Man Metropolis face title race being ‘over earlier than Christmas’ if the champions lose to Liverpool – with Pep Guardiola already ”serious about what he’ll go away behind’

Jamie Carragher has urged Manchester Metropolis might see their Premier League title defence come to an finish in the event that they lose to leaders Liverpool on Sunday.

Pep Guardiola’s facet halted a run of 5 successive defeats in all competitions on Tuesday, however Man Metropolis collapsed from a 3-0 lead to attract in opposition to Feyenoord within the Champions League.

Man Metropolis face a frightening prospect of going through a Liverpool facet driving excessive underneath Arne Slot this weekend as they bid to finish a run of six matches and not using a win.

The defending champions stay second within the desk, however are eight factors adrift of Liverpool forward of the conflict.

Writing in his Telegraph column, Carragher urged defeat at Anfield might go away Man Metropolis with an excessive amount of to do as they bid for 5 consecutive Premier League titles.

He argued Man Metropolis must produce one in every of their trademark successful runs to overtake the deficit ought to they lose.

Jamie Carragher urged defeat for Man Metropolis on Sunday might finish their title defence

The ex-Liverpool defender urged Man Metropolis’s type suggests they might not overhaul an 11-point hole

‘With some hesitation, I’ll make a prediction which – due to the Guardiola issue – might come again to hang-out me. If Metropolis lose to Liverpool, their title defence is over earlier than Christmas,’ Carragher wrote. 

‘An 11-point hole can be an excessive amount of.

Carragher added: Nobody analysing their performances might presume they won’t lose extra of the 25 video games remaining after the Anfield journey. On present type, Metropolis might lose one other 5 – 6.’

Regardless of Man Metropolis’s poor run of type, Guardiola dedicated his future to the membership final week.

Guardiola’s contract had been attributable to expire on the finish of the season, earlier than he signed a brand new two yr contract to increase his keep till 2027.

Ought to Guardiola see out the contract, it will see the Spaniard’s tenure attain a decade.

‘Because the starting of the season I have been pondering loads,’ Guardiola mentioned after signing the deal. ‘I assumed that (this season) ought to be the final one.

‘However with the issues we had within the final month, I felt that now shouldn’t be the time to go away. I might have let the membership down.

Guardiola agreed a two-year contract extension at Manchester Metropolis till 2027 earlier this month

He claimed he didn’t wish to ‘let the membership down’ following their latest run of outcomes

Carragher claimed Guardiola might mirror Jurgen Klopp in overseeing a rebuild earlier than leaving

‘I felt that I couldn’t go away now. Easy as that. Perhaps the 4 defeats was the rationale why and I felt that I can’t go away. I felt the membership nonetheless wished me and the very fact we’re nonetheless collectively so I signed.’

Carragher highlighted Guardiola’s feedback and drew a comparability to the tip of Jurgen Klopp’s time at Liverpool.

He urged Klopp had determined to remain longer at Liverpool than he deliberate to assist oversee a rebuild following a dip within the 2022-23 season, which noticed the membership miss out on Champions League soccer.

‘Guardiola might have give up on the finish of this season along with his legend safe, stepping apart for the following coach to reshape the following period of Metropolis success,’ Carragher urged.

‘As an alternative, he seemed like a person who was already serious about what he’ll go away behind, his conscience telling him that if a rebuild is important it’s his responsibility to steer it. 

‘Guardiola needs to go away Metropolis on the identical phrases and the poor run previous his deal satisfied him it was not the proper time to stroll into the Manchester sundown.’