Jamie Carragher: Problems in "Man City" midfield resemble those in "Liverpool"

Jamie Carragher believes "Man City" midfield issues mirror "Liverpool"'s crisis from a few years back.

Jamie Carragher thinks "Man City" have "issues" in midfield similar to what "Liverpool" faced a couple of years ago under Jurgen Klopp.

The "Citizens" are experiencing an unprecedented dip in form, having lost five consecutive matches under Pep Guardiola, including their last three Premier League games. They remain in second place in the Premier League but are now eight points adrift of Arne Slot's leading "Liverpool", while "Chelsea", "Arsenal" and "Brighton" are only one point behind them.

"Man City" boss Pep Guardiola recently signed a new contract with the club and may now have to consider rebuilding the team, as they sorely miss Rodri. When asked if Guardiola is unsackable at "Man City", Carragher responded on Sky Sports: "Yes, he is. Sir Alex Ferguson was unsackable. I think Jurgen Klopp was probably unsackable at "Liverpool".

"There's no way "Manchester City" would ever sack Pep Guardiola, even if he went two or three years without winning anything. I always felt that at "Liverpool" under Jurgen Klopp. If he went two or three years without winning a trophy, we'd all still want him to be our manager, and who would you get better than Pep Guardiola?"

In the summer of 2023, "Liverpool" decided to replace Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, who were pivotal to Klopp's success at Anfield, with both midfielders moving to Saudi Arabia as their form declined. Carragher reckons "Man City" are facing a comparable period in their midfield, with Mateo Kovacic and Ilkay Gundogan struggling to fill in for Rodri.

When asked if "Man City" are in crisis, Carragher replied: "No, I wouldn't use the word crisis. They're still second in the Premier League. It's a dreadful run. If it continues, I think we talk like that, but I still think "Manchester City" can have a successful season.

"But the problems they've got in the midfield, I'm not sure you can fix them with the personnel they've got right now. I think they would need to attack the transfer market in January, but that's a problem for them because of their current standing in the Premier League, and would that deter players from coming mid-season?

The issues they've got right now in central midfield are reminiscent of what "Liverpool" had a couple of years ago, when Jordan Henderson and Fabinho were in that role, and the legs just weren't there anymore.

We did some analysis on "Monday Night Football" about them getting done on the counter, and that's what is happening to "Manchester City" right now.

The former "Liverpool" defender added: "I think the age profile of the midfield is a problem.

Rodri's won the Ballon d'Or and he's the best in the world in that position. But his replacements – Ilkay Gundogan, well into his 30s, and Kovacic, who has turned 30 – haven't got great pace.

The other midfield players, more attacking midfield players, but Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, also well into their 30s. So that's a problem. No one beats Father Time. As you age, the sharpness, the extra bit of pace maybe leaves you, and in that central midfield area, they have a problem that, as we saw at "Liverpool" a couple of years ago, I don't think those players can fix.

Maybe Pep can come up with something a bit tactical, a little different, which I think he tried at the weekend, but it didn't quite work.

I think it's new players he needs, rather than a new tactical plan.