Jamie Carragher has cast his eye over the next 12 months and cited Liverpool’s only Premier League challengers, who is likely to land the Ballon d’Or and the Champions League’s likely winners
Jamie Carragher has backed Liverpool and their players to enjoy a stellar 2025 with the Reds currently sitting pretty on top of the Premier League.
The former player turned pundit has seen the Anfield outfit make light work of the post-Jurgen Klopp era and they already look poised to lift a second Premier League title. Arne Slot has enjoyed a stellar opening few months and the Reds are in the hunt for several honours.
They aren’t without competition though, particularly in Europe. Klopp’s first major title was the Champions League in 2019 and Slot will look to emulate that achievement. Carragher though has pinpointed sufficient competition across Europe.
He also claims Cole Palmer has superseded Phil Foden in the England pecking order as they prepare to enter the Thomas Tuchel era. The Three Lions are still searching for the success they so crave and Carragher believes the Chelsea star and Jude Bellingham will now carry them forward.
Liverpool for the title as Arsenal face issue
Arsenal have narrowly missed out to Manchester City for the past two years and they will have to go some if they want to make it third time lucky. The Gunners are six points off the Reds and have already played an extra game.
They remain the set piece kings but questions have been asked over how potent they can be from open play, especially without a prolific striker. Carragher too has noted how the injury list has suddenly not been so kind to them with their squad stretched. Chelsea, whilst in the hunt, are too early in their development in the eyes of the former Red.
He told the Telegraph: “It is between Liverpool and Arsenal. Enzo Maresca has done an excellent job at Chelsea this season. I was not sure when the club opted not to keep Mauricio Pochettino last summer, but they appointed a coach with a specific profile and Maresca has brought the squad together.
“Having said that, I agree with him that Chelsea are not quite ready to become champions. They will need another goalkeeper and centre-half before they can go the distance. Arsenal’s biggest problem right now is their injuries. They managed to avoid too much disruption in the last two years but their squad has been stretched this time.”
Four-way hunt for the Champions League
Holders Real Madrid have been far from their imperious best in Europe and have already lost three times. Qualification in this new format, whilst likely, is far from guaranteed. Carragher though still believes they are among the favourites alongside Liverpool.
Bayern Munich too are among his picks whilst Inter Milan, the Italian champions and runners-up two years ago, are a slightly left-field choice with no Serie A side conquering Europe since they did under Jose Mourinho in 2010.
He said: “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.
“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.”
Salah to scoop the individual gongs
The Egyptian has been sensational, even if he is playing under the cloud of an uncertain future. Already Salah can boast two PFA Player of the Year awards – winning those in 2018 and then in 2022. Carragher believes his domestic exploits make him a guarantee.
The bigger prize now is the possibility of winning the Ballon d’Or. Salah is yet to come in the top three but is desperate to emulate George Weah – the only African winner. And with no international tournament for anyone to shine Carragher believes this might be his best chance.
He said: ” Mohamed Salah and Mohamed Salah. The Liverpool winger is already on his way to winning the Professional Footballers’ Association and Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year, and if his side go on to win the Premier League his only credible rivals for that honour would be some of his own team-mates or Chelsea’s Cole Palmer.”
He also added: “Salah has stated in the past that he wants to become the second African to win the Ballon d’Or after George Weah did so in 1995. I think he has a great chance.”
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