Jamie Carragher has admitted that he can't pick a winner between Liverpool and Manchester City ahead of Sunday's seismic title showdown - but he has conceded that the title race is done and dusted if the Reds lose at the Etihad.
The reigning champions head into Sunday's mouthwatering fixture just a solitary point above their title rivals, who have clawed back a 14-point deficit since the turn of the year. Both City and Liverpool know that a win would put them into pole position to clinch the Premier League crown, with just a handful of games remaining following the mammoth clash in Manchester.
But Carragher believes that both teams are so evenly matched that there might not be a winner. He told the Essential Football Podcast ahead of Sky Sports’ Sunday Special: "I think it’ll be a draw, that’s not sitting on the fence, I just think the teams are so evenly matched and that a draw wouldn’t be the end of the world for either team in some ways.
"If it’s level with 10 or 15 minutes to go, it’ll be interesting to see what the managers do, whether they go for it or settle for a point. Both teams, if it finished as a draw, I think would say okay, we’ve got seven games to go here. The first game was a draw, both teams are so evenly matched, City have a slight advantage being at home but it’s going to be a 1-1 draw for me."
Although a win for Liverpool would be enough for them to leapfrog City - and open up a slender two-point lead - Carragher is adamant that a Reds win wouldn't end the title race. However, he believes that a win for Pep Guardiola's side on Sunday would extinguish Liverpool's title hopes.
He added: "I think it’ll decide the title more if City win – I don’t think it will if Liverpool won. Four points with seven games to go is a big lead. These two teams notoriously win games week after week. There’s still a way to go, no doubt, but if City were to win I think they’d have to throw it away with how long there is left."
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While Liverpool have a plethora of attacking options to hurt the defending champions after supplementing their squad with the £37million signing of Luis Diaz, Carragher believes that - if there is to be a winner - the match will be won in midfield.
"I think it will be won in midfield. Man City, no doubt, have the edge in terms of quality, and in every other area I think Liverpool have the edge but we talk about big games, how important that part of the pitch is, and certainly at Anfield, Manchester City dominated the first half when they were at their best. Liverpool came into it, knew they had to improve, and City then ended up salvaging something late on.
"I think Dias being out is a big blow for Man City, he’s a fantastic player, and their closest thing to Van Dijk in some ways, a real leader at the back. That’s a big miss, and at this moment I think Liverpool have the firepower, from the bench as well, but there’s no doubt Man City’s midfield strength is there. Whoever can come out and show those qualities in those areas will probably come out on top."
Jamie Carragher was speaking to the Essential Football Podcast ahead of Sky Sports’ Sunday Special
