Jamie Carragher says Liverpool and Manchester City are neck and neck in the Premier League title race – but the Champions League could provide the Reds with a marginal advantage that could make all the difference.
Liverpool, of course, face Bayern Munich in the last-16, while Pep Guardiola’s team drew Schalke 04.
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While for the Reds, winning the Premier League is everything this season, for Manchester City, who have never won the Champions League or the European Cup, being successful in Europe is seen as a bigger priority – ultimately, that is how Guardiola will be judged when he departs the Etihad Stadium.
Carragher told Sky Sports: “For Liverpool, yes the league is everything. But for City, it’s about more than the league.
“If Pep comes here for five years, it doesn’t matter how many league titles he wins, he will be judged on the Champions League, as he was at Barcelona. That’s the next big thing for City to do.
“If Liverpool can concentrate on the league, that might be the advantage they need.”
Defeat to Manchester City on Thursday was a slight blow to the Reds’ title chances, but the gap is still four points to second place.
As soon as the FA Cup tie with Wolves is over with, getting back into the league campaign is everything this season. Let’s hope Carragher is correct and the Reds do indeed get over the line.