Jamie Carragher has revealed he wishes Liverpool had Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber in their squad as they prepare for a crucial Premier League showdown against Manchester City.
Liverpool enter the clash with an eight-point lead over Arsenal, though the Gunners have a game in hand. However, recent draws against Aston Villa and Everton, along with a narrow win over Wolves, have raised questions about Arne Slot’s side ahead of their title-defining match at the Etihad.
In his column for The Telegraph, Carragher reflected on how Liverpool and Arsenal might have strengthened their squads to boost their title chances.
While he acknowledged Arsenal’s struggles in attack due to injuries to Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel Martinelli, he also emphasized Liverpool’s lack of defensive depth.
“Whoever falls short this season will be asking themselves if they could have done a little more in the summer and January transfer windows,” Carragher wrote. “I am not convinced either club truly grasped the nettle with recruitment to maximize their chances.
“Arsenal supporters have been concerned since the start of the year that they do not have the necessary firepower. How Arteta must wish he had someone of the calibre of Cody Gakpo in his squad, the Dutchman’s 16 goals in this campaign going under the radar.
“For Liverpool, I have been banging the drum about the need for defensive reinforcement and wish they had a full-back like Jurrien Timber. The recent injuries to Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley leave Slot short of cover, but he still has his first-choice back four to select – a contrast to Arsenal’s injury problems up front.”
Timber, who missed most of last season due to injury, has become a versatile and reliable option for Arsenal, featuring across the backline. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s injuries in defense leave Trent Alexander-Arnold as their only senior right-back in the title run-in.
Despite Manchester City not posing the same dominant threat as in previous seasons, Carragher believes Liverpool’s fate could be decided on Sunday.
“Beat Manchester City at the Etihad and win the title,” he asserted. “It sounds more straightforward than it is, and no one will be making such a wildly premature declaration if Arne Slot is celebrating an away win on Sunday night, but history informs us that victory in this fixture can be the difference between being champions and runners-up.
“Jürgen Klopp would have won two more titles with victories at the Etihad in 2019 and 2022. Mikel Arteta would have been marking the end of Arsenal’s 20-year wait to add to Arsène Wenger’s Premier League triumphs with an away win last season.”
With both Liverpool and Arsenal facing key squad limitations, Sunday’s showdown at the Etihad could prove pivotal in determining this season’s title race.