Jamie Carragher Sparks Debate: Liverpool vs. Man City – Who Has the Better Squad?
For years, Manchester City and Liverpool have been the dominant forces in English football, consistently boasting two of the finest squads in the Premier League. With Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp battling for the title since 2018, it’s no surprise that their teams are stacked with world-class talent.
While Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal has joined the title conversation since 2022, the spotlight remains on City and Liverpool. This season, under new management from Arne Slot, Liverpool have defied expectations. Despite signing just Federico Chiesa in the summer—a player who has yet to start a league match—they’ve surged ahead of their rivals in the title race.
Liverpool currently sit five points clear of City at the top of the table, leading to questions about whether they now boast the stronger squad. On The Overlap’s Stick To Football show, Jamie Carragher weighed in on the debate and made a bold claim:
“I would always say Man City have the best team and the best 18, I’d say. Liverpool have probably got the best 22.”
Carragher’s View on Squad Depth
Carragher highlighted Liverpool’s strength in depth, particularly in attack:
“They actually have five forwards who probably all think they should play. They have got decent backup in positions, so in terms of not bringing someone in, it hasn’t really hurt because they’re not getting the injuries they were last season.”
Last season, City finished nine points clear of Liverpool to clinch the Premier League title. Since then, they’ve added more quality to their ranks, including Savinho and Ilkay Gundogan, bolstering an already formidable squad. However, injuries have hit City hard this term, raising doubts about their ability to maintain dominance.
Injuries Piling Up for Man City
While Liverpool have enjoyed relatively good fortune with injuries, City are grappling with several key absences. The current injury list tells the story:
| Man City Injuries | Expected Return | Liverpool Injuries | Expected Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rodri | Next Season | Alisson Becker | Post-Intl Break |
| Ruben Dias | Post-Intl Break | Diogo Jota | Post-Intl Break |
| John Stones | Post-Intl Break | Federico Chiesa | Post-Intl Break |
| Nathan Ake | Post-Intl Break | – | – |
| Jeremy Doku | Post-Intl Break | – | – |
| Jack Grealish | Post-Intl Break | – | – |
| Manuel Akanji | Post-Intl Break | – | – |
With only seven City players on international duty, Guardiola’s side is undeniably stretched. Jeremy Doku has withdrawn from international action due to a thigh injury, while Nathan Ake is dealing with a hamstring issue. Meanwhile, City’s stars like Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden have already missed significant portions of the campaign.
Who Has the Edge?
Carragher’s point about squad depth rings true given Liverpool’s current form and availability. However, it’s hard to ignore City’s pedigree when fully fit. The debate remains open-ended: if City’s entire squad were available, opinions might lean differently.
For now, Liverpool’s depth and resilience under Slot give them the edge, but Guardiola’s City have never been a side to count out. As the season unfolds, we’ll see if Carragher’s assessment holds true or if City’s stars will rise to the occasion once more.
