Jamie Carragher fears there is ‘one thing’ that could stop Liverpool from winning the Premier League title.
The Reds have opened up a healthy seven-point lead at the top of the table as they look to clinch their 20th league title and first since 2020.
Liverpool saw title-chasing Arsenal drop points at Brighton on Saturday but failed to fully capitalise on the result as they too were held to a draw by struggling Manchester United.
Arne Slot’s side looked set to pull even further clear in the title race after recovering from Lisandro Martinez’s superb opener to lead 2-1 at Anfield through Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah.
But United, who had lost all four of their previous four games, secured a well-earned point through Amad Diallo’s 80th-minute equaliser.
The Red Devils could even have nicked a dramatic winner but Harry Maguire blazed an effort over the bar in the dying seconds.
Carragher believes the thrilling 2-2 draw was a reminder that while Liverpool have pulled clear at the top of the table, they do not boast the best defence in the league.
The former England defender believes Liverpool’s fragility in the full-back areas could even prevent the club from winning the league.
Carragher says Andy Robertson is ‘hanging on for dear life’ and criticised Trent Alexander-Arnold’s performance against Manchester United, suggesting he was affected by speculation linking him with Real Madrid.
The La Liga giants are considering making a second offer for Alexander-Arnold after Liverpool rejected an opening bid over the weekend.
‘People always have a go at Trent defensively and that won’t change but if the speculation does affect him, which it looked like it did today, Liverpool will have to change it,’ Carragher said on Gary Neville’s Sky Sports podcast.
‘Arsenal are better than Liverpool defensively, Liverpool are better going forward, they create more chances and score more goals.
‘But Liverpool in the full bank areas… Andy Robertson is hanging on for dear life, he’s been a legend for this club but it feels like he’s involved in a lot of goals at the minute, he just feels half a yard short.
‘If Trent is having problems as well on the other side that puts an awful lot of pressure on the middle two.
‘Van Dijk saved Liverpool a lot today, he’s probably having to work too hard, and that’s the one thing that can stop Liverpool from winning the league, the full-back areas.’
Given Carragher’s concerns, he hopes his former club use the January transfer window to bolster Slot’s defensive options.
‘Liverpool looked really strong defensively earlier in the season but they’re starting to leak goals and that’s my worry with the team and the full-back areas,’ he added.
‘It doesn’t sound like they will but I still feel Liverpool need to buy a defender in January.’
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