Jamie Carragher has shared what he thinks could prove Liverpool’s trump card as the Premier League gears up for a three-way title race ahead of the end of the season.
Jurgen Klopp’s side sit at the top of the Premier League table but hold a narrow lead on 63 points to serial champions Manchester City’s 62 points.
The top flight’s third contenders Arsenal are just one point below Pep Guardiola’s treble winners on 61 points following their 6-0 rout of Sheffield United on Monday evening.
The three clubs will have to be sure-footed in the business end of the season, with Liverpool, Man City, and Arsenal all capable of going clear on the back of their rivals results.
But Carragher – speaking after the Gunners’ demolition at Bramall Lane – suggested that his former side had an added weapon in their arsenal that their rivals could only aspire to.
I think since the five substitute rule has come in, no one’s utilised it better than Jurgen Klopp,’ Carragher argued on Sky Sports. ‘We spoke about Arsenal earlier on and you think how they can win the league.
‘They’re the best defensively, Manchester City are probably the best team with the best individuals, but this is where Liverpool can win the league from the bench, because Klopp always uses five subs.’
Carragher highlighted that the Reds had used 119 substitutes since the start of the season, a figure which ‘dwarfs’ Man City’s comparatively paltry 74.
Arsenal are ‘a little bit closer’ to the league leaders, having fielded 107 substitutes during the current league campaign.
Liverpool showed off their squad depth during the Carabao Cup final, where Klopp was forced to plump for youth options in the wake of an injury crisis that had left key players including Mohammed Salah, Alisson, Dominic Szoboszlai, and Trent Alexander-Arnold sidelined.
Young stars Jaydan Danns, Jarrell Quansah, James McConnell and Bobby Clark were brought on against Chelsea at Wembley and helped spur the Merseyside club to a 1-0 extra-time victory, with many of the youngsters going on to feature during the side’s next FA Cup tie against Norwich City later that week.
Klopp’s canny deployment of substitutes may also go hand-in-hand with the club’s impressive record for late wins.
Mail Sport reported that the Anfield club leads the way with second-half goals, having scored 42 in the last 45 minutes.
Liverpool pulled off their latest-ever victory on Saturday against Nottingham Forest after Darwin Nunez waited until the 99th minute to score the matchwinner at the City Ground.
The home side were incensed that the goal was allowed to stand, but the late strike allowed Liverpool to claim their 18th stoppage-time victory during the Klopp era – and help them stay at the top of the Premier League table at the end of the weekend.
