Liverpool have fallen behind Arsenal in the Premier League title race, and Jamie Carragher has had his say on what makes Mikel Arteta's side so difficult to play against
Jamie Carragher speaks to Sky Sports
Jamie Carragher has had his say on what makes Arsenal such a threat to Liverpool
View Image
Jamie Carragher has explained what makes Arsenal so dangerous in the Premier League title race with Liverpool. The Gunners currently sit three points clear of second-placed Manchester City in the top-flight table after eight games.
Mikel Arteta's side have won six, drawn one and lost one, with that sole defeat coming in August's 1-0 loss to the Reds at Anfield. But despite securing what many felt could be a pivotal win over Arteta's men, Liverpool have struggled badly in recent weeks.
Arne Slot's team have lost four matches in a row across all competitions for the first time since November 2014. Three of those losses came in the league, with the Reds now four points off Arsenal in third.
And former Liverpool centre-back Carragher has offered his view on what makes the Gunners so tough to play against - pointing out the danger they pose from set-pieces. Arteta's side have grown a reputation for their set-piece prowess with eight of their league goals coming from either a corner or free-kick so far this season.
“I’m a Liverpool supporter, I’m watching Arsenal and every time they get a corner, my head is in my hands," he told the Sky Sports Premier League Podcast.
"I’ve never seen anything like this before in football. I think the whole football world feel every time they get a corner, they’re going to score a goal.”
Arteta’s men are also joint top of the Champions League league phase table, alongside defending champions Paris Saint-Germain and last year’s runners-up Inter Milan. Carragher was extremely impressed by what he saw from them in Tuesday's 4-0 thrashing of Atletico Madrid and has changed his mind on their chances after they reached the semi-finals last season.
"Right now I think Arsenal and Bayern are the two most impressive teams I've seen when you look at their performances domestically and what they're doing in the Champions League," he said on CBS Sports.
"I’ve said before on this show that I've never had Arsenal down as a Champions League club. I know that might sound obvious because they've never won it before but I've always thought there’s something about them that doesn’t connect, they’ve never really gone close.
"Thierry's [Arsenal] team was the best team I ever played against in the Premier League and even that team didn't come close enough to winning the Champions League. It wasn't that team that got to the Champions League final.
"I do look at this team now and see how strong they are defensively. My Liverpool team that won the Champions League [in 2005] were not a great team attacking-wise but we were strong defensively.
"That always gives you a chance, especially when you get to the knockout stages and the two-legged ties. If you're strong defensively you've always got a chance. So, yeah, I see Arsenal as one of the four or five teams that can win this competition."
Arsenal are next in action at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon as they look to maintain their lead in the Premier League. Liverpool, meanwhile, could close the gap to Arteta's side before they play this weekend when they travel to Brentford on Saturday evening (8pm kick-off UK time) after facing Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday.
Content Image
Content Image
For the latest news and breaking news, visit liverpoolecho.co.uk/all-about/liverpool-fc. Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.
Follow us on Twitter @LivEchoLFC - the official Liverpool ECHO LFC Twitter account - for all the latest LFC news as it happens in real time.
We're also on Facebook/LiverpoolEchoLFC - your must-see LFC news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Liverpool ECHO.
Listen to our podcasts by searching for 'Blood Red' wherever you get your podcasts.
Sign up for one of the Liverpool Echo's free daily and weekly newsletters on Liverpool FC by clicking here.