Jamie Carragher Cautions Liverpool Over Title Hype Amid Alexander Isak Transfer Saga
Jamie Carragher has urged Liverpool fans to temper expectations over the club’s Premier League title defence, even if Alexander Isak arrives at Anfield. Gary Neville, however, sees things differently.
Liverpool romped to last season’s title, finishing ten points clear at the top. The summer has been just as eventful. Nearly £300 million has been spent on new faces.
Newcastle have already rebuffed a staggering £110 million bid for Swedish striker Isak. Yet the player is reportedly eager to leave St James’ Park, leaving the door ajar for a potential blockbuster move.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher said: “Yeah, I think so, but I don’t get this narrative of Liverpool are going to run away with it.”
The former Reds stalwart pointed to Liverpool’s Community Shield defeat against Crystal Palace as a warning sign. Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike have all arrived, but Carragher insists they need time to settle.
“If you look at history, it could tell you that it’s not just about having the best players, it’s about having the best team, and sort of making that balance right, and at the weekend it didn’t quite look right,” he explained.
The 737-game veteran, who lifted seven major honours with Liverpool, added: “I think we will have a title race, and I think there’s a lot of talk. I think the great thing about football is what we actually saw on Sunday with Liverpool.
It didn’t look right. It tells me it’s not just about spending lots of money and buying the best players, you’ve still got to manage that team and make it work and have a nice balance to it.”
Neville, though, believes Isak could be the decisive piece in Liverpool’s puzzle.
“Liverpool won it really comfortably last year and have had a great transfer window,” he said during Sky Sports’ Premier League launch.
“If they get Isak, which it looks like he’s agitating for a move, then it will make them massive favourites. But Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, I think, will push them closer than last year.”
For now, the chase for Isak continues. The hype grows. But if Carragher’s right, the Premier League crown won’t be decided by price tags alone.
