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Topics: Jamie Carragher, Arsenal, Liverpool, Champions League, Football
Nasir Jabbar
Topics: Jamie Carragher, Arsenal, Liverpool, Champions League, Football
Jamie Carragher snubbed Arsenal when naming the FOUR clubs that can win the Champions League this season.
Just two matchdays remain before the Champions League enters the knockout stage.
Liverpool, who have won each of their six European fixtures this campaign, sit at the top of the standings ahead of the likes of Barcelona and Bayer Leverkusen as well as fellow Premier League sides Arsenal and Aston Villa.
Despite occupying a spot in the top eight, Carragher doesn't think Arsenal will challenge for the 'Big Ears' trophy.
Carragher thinks the winner will be one of Liverpool, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich or holders Real Madrid, who beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at Wembley Stadium last season.
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"For the last few years, you would bet on Real Madrid or Manchester City to win the competition; City, because they were the best team in Europe, and Real because they are the best team in the history of the competition," he wrote in his column for The Telegraph.
"No one wants to draw Real in the knockout phase because it does not matter how poorly they are playing, they always find a way to get through. They do not look as strong this year, however, as they are yet to replace Toni Kroos and they do not yet have the right balance between attack and defence since signing Kylian Mbappe.
"Inter came close in 2023 when they were beaten by City in the final. They have started this year’s competition strongly again. Bayern also look good and are always in contention by the latter stages.
"And then, of course, there is Liverpool who have a 100 per cent record so far. They are the four sides everyone else will want to avoid.
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"But the Champions League is the best competition in the world because the standard is so high from the quarter-finals onwards, so any of the final eight can win it."
Carragher, however, believes the Gunners are Liverpool's main rivals for this season's Premier League title.
But he highlighted the club's injury woes, with Bukayo Saka expected to be out of action for two months after undergoing hamstring surgery.
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"Arsenal’s biggest problem right now is their injuries," the Liverpool legend added. "They managed to avoid too much disruption in the last two years but their squad has been stretched this time. Mikel Arteta will find the answers to ensure the team improves in the second half of the season, and they have built valuable experience of a run-in. If they can get to March still close, they will believe."
On what Mikel Arteta needs to do to secure Arsenal's first league title since 2004, Carragher continued: "Arteta needs at least two more top attacking players. I am not talking about back-ups in the event of injury, but starters who will keep the opposition manager guessing as to what the starting XI will be."