Manchester United faced Wolverhampton Wanderers on the first rendition of Monday Night Football this season. Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville picked apart the weekend’s fixtures as usual prior to kick-off, but Neville was left bemused over Carragher’s Liverpool prediction.
The pair sat down to preview the new campaign on an episode of The Overlap just six days ago, both delivering their early verdict on how they see the season panning out. Included in their preview was a top six prediction, though the former Reds defender has changed his opinion already!
Carragher initially stated that his top six in order would be Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, his former side clinching third place. Neville on the other hand went a tad more rogue with his prediction, saying his top six in order would be Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Aston Villa.
Ahead of United’s match against Wolves, in which they won 1-0 courtesy of Raphael Varane’s second half header, the Sky Sports duo ran through their selections again. This time, however, Carragher had swapped Liverpool for the Red Devils, stating that Neville’s former club would now finish third with Jurgen Klopp’s men taking fourth spot.
Quick to question his broadcast partner, Neville asked, “Have you changed your prediciton?
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“Last week on something else, you put Liverpool above Manchester United, you’ve changed your teams around.”
“I think we’ve got to sign a holding midfield player,” replied Carragher.
“I think Manchester United have got to get one as well!”
Barking back, Neville said, “You can’t change your prediction in a week, I mean seriously!”
Is Carragher justified?
Klopp’s men have missed out on two high-profile midfield signings in recent days, both to Chelsea, having agreed fees with Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton for Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia respectively, only for the pair to prefer a Stamford Bridge switch. Caicedo’s transfer to Mauricio Pochettino’s side is official, with Lavia’s announcement set to follow shortly.
Reports suggest that Liverpool have now enquired into the availability of Real Madrid pair Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde with Los Blancos likely to make one available before the end of the transfer window.
Carragher is right, it is no secret that Klopp must bring in a defence-minded midfielder having already lost Jordan Henderson and Fabinho this summer, but time is now ticking for the Reds to get their man.
The Reds have just over two weeks to make their move in the transfer window having been dealt a major blow in their failed pursuits of Caicedo and Lavia, it is bound to be a hectic period at Anfield this fortnight.