Carragher declares Man City’s title bid over after Liverpool defeat

Jamie Carragher declared Manchester City’s Premier League title defence as finishedfollowing their 2-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.

City were left11 points behind leaders Liverpool afterPep Guariola’s side fell to a fourth consecutive top-flight loss, an unwanted feat they have not suffered since 2008.

Cody Gakpo andMohamed Salah were on target at Anfield, earning Arne Slot an18th win from his first 20 games in charge of the Reds in all competitions.

Former Liverpool defender Carragher insisted that there is noway back for Guardiola’s defending champions in their quest to retain thecrown for a fifth consecutive season.

"This season, Manchester City will not be winning the Premier League," Carragher said on Sky Sports."I don’tthink there is any way back.

"It is almost a mini-crisis for Manchester City, and I think it’s reminiscent of Liverpool two years ago. I actually think Man City might have a fight on their hands for the top four.

"I look at Arsenal and Chelsea and the way they’re looking right now,I think it may be difficult for Man City to finish above them if they don’t go into the market in January."

Guardiola was seen holding six fingers up to the home crowd, referencingeach top-flighttitle he has won, after ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ chantsechoed around Anfield.

Carragher backed the former Barcelona bossfor his decision to do so, saying: "He’s putting the six fingers up and rightly so.

"I think he is just hitting home, ‘Don’t take for granted what we’ve done’. Maybe just sending a message to the hierarchy above him, to his own supporters there."

City’s defeat dropped them to fifth in the table following Chelsea’s win over Aston Villa on Sunday and Arsenal’s triumph over West Ham 24 hours earlier.

With Guardiola’s side continuing to stumble, Carragher believes that Chelsea and the Gunners will be Liverpool’s main title challengers until the end of the season.

"He [Guardiola] needs to buy players. If he can do that in January who knows, but he may need to wait until the end of the season to fix it," Carragher added.

"I look at the energy Arsenal have got and the energy the young players at Chelsea have got, and I think it might be difficult for City to finish above them."

City take onNottingham Forest at home on Wednesday, hoping to get their season back on track against a side they have not lost to since an FA Cup defeat in January 2009.