Carra: What Liverpool need to do now to win the Premier League

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Jamie Carragher thinks it’s essential that Liverpool increase their lead on Manchester City while Aymeric Laporte is still injured.

The French centre-back has ligament issues and his absence has been very obvious at the heart of Pep Guardiola’s defence, especially with Vincent Kompany exited and John Stones also sidelined.

Nicolas Otamendi is a poor understudy, and Fernandinho far more comfortable in midfield.

Liverpool are eight wins from eight, but Carra completely accepts that we would struggle more than City if a handful of our first-team were out injured.

“I think what we are seeing with Man City now is they are being affected by injuries now in the same position and that’s a problem for them,” he told Jason Cundy and Andy Goldstein on the radio.

“That’s a problem for anyone even though they have got a better squad than Liverpool and you see how much it is hurting them.

“You may actually think it would hurt Liverpool more if they injuries because, as I said, they don’t quite the squad City have.

“But to be fair, Man City have problems where they are weakest, at centre-back, in terms of numbers and quality.

“But there is no doubt a big injury to a big Liverpool player will severely hamper them. So that’s why I don’t think anyone really at Liverpool is getting too carried away.

“It is a great position to be in, there’s no doubt, and if you didn’t say that you would be a liar. And what Liverpool have to do is capitalise as much.

“And not just not think eight points is a great lead; try and make it 10, make it 12, if possible. Especially while City have problems at the back, like having Laporte out.

“Because there is no doubt that when Laporte is back and City back on their feet, they’re a team capable of doing exactly what Liverpool are doing and going and winning 17, 18 games.”

It’s imperative that Jurgen Klopp manages the fitness of his players carefully over the coming months.

In December, we have a frantic Premier League schedule, a Club World Championships and potentially EFL Cup games to play.

We’d ideally leave our stars out of the Club World Champs and back the likes of Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri to bring it home – but we can’t imagine that’ll happen – even if deep down Klopp is tempted!

Alisson’s return from injury will boost us, and we’re hoping Joel Matip and Mo Salah will also be ready to play Manchester United on October 20.

 

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