Jamie Carragher thinks Manchester City are favourites for the title after their 2-1 victory over Liverpool on Thursday night.
Sergio Aguero, with his seventh goal in as many home league matches against the Reds, and Leroy Sane scored either side of Roberto Firmino’s second-half equaliser to reduce the distance between the two sides to four points.
Had City lost, a 10-point disadvantage would have looked insurmountable even for the defending champions.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher was involved in a discussion with Graeme Souness, who reckons he would rather be in Liverpool’s shoes going into the second half of the season.
“I think Liverpool are in a great place,” Souness told Sky Sports. “It’s the first week of January and it’s the first time they’ve lost. That’s the first time they’ve tasted losing in the Premier League.
“I know which team I would rather be playing for in the second half of the season, I think the momentum is very much with Liverpool.
“I think City have come unstuck three in six games – there’s still questions there although a lot of them have been answered tonight.”
However, Carragher disagreed and reckons Pep Guardiola’s side are favourites for the title.
“Looking at it now – four points… I think we’ve probably said since the start of the season that City are the best team in this league,” Carragher added. “I think it’s maybe 50/50, maybe slightly in City’s favour, they will fancy their chances.
“I think what we haven’t had for a couple of years is a real title race. The last few years, Chelsea under [Antonio] Conte ran away with it and City last season… finally it feels like we may have one this season.”
And Carragher thinks whoever gets knocked out of the Champions League first could have a huge advantage in the title race, he continued: “I just think with City it’s more than the league. If Pep Guardiola comes here with City for four or five years, he will be judged in the Champions League.
“That’s the big thing for City to do to take them to the next level, to become one of those super clubs with one of those on the CV.
“A big part of this season will be who goes further in the Champions League. City are still in the Carabao Cup also – we’ve still got the FA Cup – if Liverpool could just concentrate on the league, that might be the advantage they need.”