- Carragher said Liverpool are not ready to challenge after their draw with Luton
- Chris Sutton though believes the Reds can still push Man City for the title
- Can Liverpool challenge for the title? Listen to the debate on It’s All Kicking Off
Chris Sutton believes Liverpool are still in with a shout of challenging for the title despite their disappointing draw at Luton.
Jurgen Klopp’s rotten record away against promoted teams continued, after the Reds needed a stoppage-time equaliser from Luis Diaz to rescue a point in a 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road on Sunday.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports after the game that his former side are not ready to challenge for the title again until they bring in ‘another midfield player 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 that they can really put a challenge in on Manchester City? Yes, so I don’t know why Jamie Carragher has written them off as such.
Chris Sutton (right) has refuted Jamie Carragher’s claims that Liverpool can’t challenge for the title
Liverpool were held to a disappointing draw at Luton though it could have been worse with Luis Diaz (centre) netting a stoppage time equaliser
Carragher said Liverpool will need to buy a defensive midfielder and a ‘top class defender’ if they are to challenge for the title
‘As well as Luton played and they did play well, really resilient. They’ve got something about them under Rob Edwards, well organised, a game plan where they counter well. Liverpool still missed a lot of chances.’
Liverpool had 24 attempts on goal and missed several big opportunities 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 fired over the bar into Row Z when all he had to do was guide the ball into the net.
Fortunately for the Uruguayan, the offside flag was lifted to somewhat spare his blushes, though Carragher insisted that he ‘couldn’t defend Nunez’ and that his miss was ‘unbelievable’.
Sutton said: ‘(They were) big chances. Jota had the one in the first half where he tried to beat the keeper and his near post though the the easier option would have been to just to go across the goalkeeper into the far corner.
‘But your mate Darwin, Darwin Nunez. A player I think who we both like he scored a brilliant goal didn’t he, against Bournemouth. I mean, an unbelievable goal. And then he goes from that to that miss.
‘And it’s moments like that if you want to challenge Manchester City… I felt, I’m not a Liverpool fan and I have nothing against Luton but I felt deflated a little bit because you want there to be a title race.
‘Every time Liverpool drop points… you know, we’ve got Arsenal fanboys on the production here who are desperate for Arsenal to win the league and maybe that was some of Arteta’s frustration that they know they can’t keep dropping points with Manchester City.’
It was a frustrating day at the office for Liverpool who had 24 shots during the game but missed some big opportunities – with Darwin Nunez (pictured) squandering some big chances
Diogo Jota also missed a big opportunity during the first-half of the game against Luton
Carragher on Sky Sports suggested Liverpool need to buy a defensive midfielder as Alexis Mac Allister ‘is not a holding midfield player.’
On their need for a defender, he said: ‘I think in the back four Liverpool could do with not so much a player for a specific position but almost just a great defender who can play a couple of positions. They went with Gomez today at left-back instead of Tsimikas, they thought he’d be stronger defensively.
‘I still think Liverpool could do with another player in that position, probably on the other side at right-back and maybe release Trent at different times maybe into midfield, against certain opposition you play someone there who’s maybe stronger and tougher defensively.
‘I think Liverpool are not ready to win the league, I think Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool supporters know that right now. They want to get back in the top four but in terms of challenging again I think they need another midfield player and a top class defender.’