- Carragher said Liverpool are not ready for a challenge after their draw against Luton
- However, Chris Sutton believes the Reds can still push Man City for the title
- Can Liverpool challenge for the title? Listen to the debate about It all starts
Chris Sutton believes Liverpool are still in the race for the title despite their disappointing draw against Luton.
Jurgen Klopp’s poor record away against promoted sides continued after the Reds needed an injury-time equalizer from Luis Diaz to salvage a point in a 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road on Sunday.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports after the match that his former side are not ready to challenge for the title again until they bring in ‘a new midfielder and a top-class defender’.
Sutton and Mail Sport’s Ian Ladyman addressed Carragher’s comments on the latest It’s All Kicking Off podcast, with the former striker insisting the Reds can still push Man City.
He said: ‘Do I think Liverpool will win the league? No, I don’t think Liverpool will win the league. Do I think they can really offer Manchester City a challenge? Yeah, so I don’t know why Jamie Carragher wrote them off as such.
Chris Sutton (right) has refuted Jamie Carragher’s claims that Liverpool cannot challenge for the title
Liverpool were held to a disappointing draw against Luton, although it could have been worse when Luis Diaz (centre) scored an injury-time equalizer
Carragher said Liverpool will need to buy a defensive midfielder and a ‘top defender’ if they want to challenge for the title
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“Like Luton played and they played well, really resilient. They have something under Rob Edwards, well organised, a game plan where they respond well. Liverpool still missed a lot of chances.”
Liverpool had 24 attempts on goal and missed several big chances through the likes of Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez before Luton opened the scoring through Tahith Chong.
Nunez in particular missed a big chance in the 69th minute when he was found by Mohamed Salah and shot off the crossbar into Row Z when all he had to do was guide the ball into the net.
Fortunately for the Uruguayan, the offside flag was raised to spare some of his blushes, although Carragher insisted he ‘couldn’t defend Nunez’ and that his miss was ‘unbelievable’.
Sutton said: “(They were) big chances. Jota had that one in the first half where he tried to beat the keeper and his near post, although it would have been the easier option to simply go over the goalkeeper into the far corner.
“But your size Darwin, Darwin Nunez. I think a player we both like scored a brilliant goal, didn’t he, against Bournemouth. I mean, an incredible goal. And then he goes from that to that miss.
‘And at times like that when you want to challenge Manchester City… I felt like, I’m not a Liverpool fan and I have nothing against Luton, but I felt a bit deflated because you want there to be a title race.
‘Every time Liverpool drop points… you know, we’ve got Arsenal fanboys in production here who are desperate to see Arsenal win the league and maybe that was part of Arteta’s frustration that they know they can’t get points with that keep dropping. Manchester City.’
It was a frustrating day at the office for Liverpool, who had 24 shots during the match but missed a number of big chances, with Darwin Nunez (pictured) squandering some big chances
Diogo Jota also missed a big chance during the first half of the match against Luton
Sky Sports’ Carragher suggested Liverpool should buy a defensive midfielder as Alexis Mac Allister ‘isn’t a midfield player’.
On their need for a defender, he said: ‘I think what Liverpool need in the back four is not so much a player for a specific position, but almost just a great defender who can play a few positions. They went with Gomez at left back today instead of Tsimikas, they thought he would be stronger defensively.
‘I still think Liverpool could use another player in that position, probably at right-back on the other side and maybe release Trent at other times, perhaps in midfield. Against certain opponents you play someone who may be stronger and stronger defensively.
‘I don’t think Liverpool are ready to win the league yet, I think Jurgen Klopp and the Liverpool supporters know that now. They would like to get back into the top four, but in terms of challenge I think they still need a top-class midfielder and defender.”