Jamie Carragher believes Jurgen Klopp will look at Arsenal and wish 'half of the team' were Liverpool players, such is the current contrast in quality between the clubs.
After narrowly missing out on the Champions League last season, few had the Gunners down as potential title winners this campaign. The impressive rise of the north London side cannot be downplayed, however, having been made possible by placing faith in youngsters and astute summer signings.
Liverpool have gone in the opposite direction since the start of this term and currently sit 29 points adrift of the league leaders, having seemingly reached the end of a hugely successful cycle with a core group of players.
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Whether or not the current gulf in class between the teams is telling this weekend remains to be seen, though the visitors will recognise this is their greatest chance to secure an Anfield win in years. Of the view the two teams have switched identities, Carragher wrote in his Telegraph column: "Arsenal are the team Liverpool used to be. They are young, fast, energetic, thrilling, hungry, dynamic and on the threshold of ending a long wait for the Premier League title. Everything about them is exciting. When I look at Arsenal, I see an evolving team with the core of their strongest XI at the start of what should be an illustrious career. When I look at Liverpool, I see a core of players whose peak is behind them."
Two players at the heart of Arsenal's upturn in fortunes have been Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, who have 38 Premier League goal contributions between them in 2022/23. Jurgen Klopp has openly praised the attacking duo in the past, though Carragher has conceded the Reds' chances of recruiting either player have long gone.
"Jurgen Klopp has had little cause to be envious of other squads during his Liverpool reign. He does now. He must wish half of Arteta’s team were in his starting XI," said the 45-year-old.
"Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli bring the lightning pace and penetration that Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane introduced to Klopp’s 4-3-3 system five years ago. Not so long ago, Klopp must have investigated if it was possible to lure the Arsenal duo to Merseyside. Suffice to say that ship has well and truly sailed.
"The side Klopp is trying to get a tune out of for the last 10 games of this season are not so dissimilar in make-up to what Arteta inherited in 2019, full of ageing players on big contracts who need to be eased out so the promising youngsters and next signings can shine. The difference is Arteta was prepared to be more pragmatic based on the tools he had when he took over. What worries me about this game is how rigid Klopp is in believing that the team must play the same high-pressing way, no matter how good the opponent or whether his personnel are able to execute it.
"Liverpool’s last two games against Manchester City and Chelsea were prime examples of this high-risk football. The sight of a low-energy team trying to press high and play man-to-man all over the pitch while a yard off the pace was troubling. When players do not have the necessary attributes to play how a manager wants, it does not do them or the coach any favours to persist with the same failing idea."
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