Carragher doubts Liverpool’s Champions League hopes after City defeat

• Jamie Carragher said Liverpool is unlikely to finish in the Champions League places after defeat by Manchester City at Anfield.
• He identified recurring errors and squad issues as key reasons for Liverpool’s league position.
• Liverpool sit sixth with 13 matches remaining, four points adrift of fifth place.

Jamie Carragher said Liverpool will fall short of the Premier League places that secure Champions League qualification following a 2-1 home loss to Manchester City.

Liverpool took the lead through Dominik Szoboszlai in the second half. Late goals from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland reversed the result in the closing minutes. Szoboszlai was then sent off deep into stoppage time.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher said the current form and league position leave little margin for recovery.

“No. Right now I don’t,” Carragher said when asked if Liverpool would reach the Champions League places. “They would need a big improvement in form and the teams above them are playing well.”

Liverpool are sixth in the table with 13 games remaining. They are level on points with Brentford and four points behind Chelsea in fifth.

Carragher said the defeat at Anfield increased the scale of the challenge.

“It’s a bad one,” he said. “When you look at the league for Liverpool, it feels a long way back into the top five. There is a gap now. It can be closed, but Liverpool will need strong cup runs to salvage the season.”

He also raised concerns over squad availability ahead of upcoming fixtures.

Szoboszlai will miss the next league match through suspension. Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong remain sidelined. Joe Gomez faces a fitness test before the trip to Sunderland.

“When you look at Liverpool’s bench for the game against Sunderland, Szoboszlai will not be available and they have an issue at right back,” Carragher said.