'May come back to haunt me' - Jamie Carragher sends Man City message before Liverpool

Jamie Carragher thinks Manchester City's Premier League title defence will be "over before Christmas" should they lose to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday. And the legendary former defender has labelled the game as "monumental" in the wider picture of the 24/25 campaign.

City head to a venue they have not won at in front of paying crowd since 2003 on the back of six games without a victory that included a five-match losing sequence prior to Tuesday night's draw with Feyenoord, which saw a shock collapse when 3-0 up heading into the final 15 minutes in the Champions League.

During that period, City have lost to Bournemouth, Brighton and Tottenham in the Premier League to leave Arne Slot's leaders with the opportunity to go a remarkable 11 points clear at the summit on December 1.

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Writing in his Telegraph column, Carragher feels another defeat would be terminal for Pep Guardiola's hopes to become the first manager to win five successive league titles.

Carragher says: "With some hesitation, I will make a prediction which - because of the Guardiola factor - may come back to haunt me. If City lose to Liverpool, their title defence is over before Christmas.

"An 11-point gap would be too much. That is not necessarily because Liverpool would stretch away to win the Premier League. Arsenal and Chelsea have a real chance this season, too.

"But City would need to go into the Christmas schedule looking capable of going on one of their prolonged winning sequences. No one analysing their performances could presume they will not lose more of the 25 games remaining after the Anfield trip. On current form, City could lose another five or six.

"That makes the upcoming game monumental in this year’s title race, early as it is. Slot will recognise this, too. The difference between an 11-point and five point lead is massive psychologically."

Carragher feels the next week which sees the Reds host City before trips to Newcastle and Everton will have a huge say in what they are able to achieve this term under Slot.

He adds: "It may only be November, but the next three fixtures can define Liverpool’s season. If they claim seven out of the next nine points available from the games against City and then tough trips to Newcastle United and Everton, they will be in an amazing position.

"Liverpool must strike at their wounded rivals and show no mercy, because they know that eventually, whether it is in days, weeks or months, City will be back to looking like their old selves.

"If City win at Anfield and reduce the gap to a mere five points, everyone will be looking at the past few weeks and asking: ‘What was all the fuss about?’"

Liverpool have won 17 or Slot's 19 games as head coach and welcome City to Anfield on the back of a 2-0 victory over Real Madrid on Wednesday night in the Champions League.