1 week ago
28
Roy Keane has accused Jamie Carragher of "playing games" following the Liverpool icon's prediction that Arsenal is among the leading contenders to lift the Champions League trophy.
Despite Liverpool bouncing back with a commanding 5-1 triumph over Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday evening, their four-match losing run prior to the fixture in Germany had prompted many to question Arne Slot's squad's ability to retain their Premier League title or compete at the highest level in Europe.
Carragher reckons Arsenal will prove Liverpool's primary challengers on both domestic and continental stages, though he has been criticised for attempting to heap pressure on the Reds' competitors by talking up their prospects of European success.
After the Gunners' impressive 4-0 victory against Atletico Madrid, which sealed their third straight win in Europe's elite club competition this campaign, Carragher told CBS Sports: "I do look at this team now and see how strong they are defensively.
"My Liverpool team that won the Champions League were not a great team attacking-wise but we were strong defensively.
"That always gives you a chance, especially when you get to the knockout stages and the two-legged ties. If you're strong defensively you've always got a chance. So, yeah, I see Arsenal as one of the four or five teams that can win this competition."
During Thursday's edition of The Overlap, Keane suggested that Carragher's analysis was a calculated move designed to shift pressure onto the north London outfit.
"Jamie said last night that Arsenal are favourites for the Champions League, well he put them as favourites," former Lionesses star Jill Scott began.
Keane then offered his interpretation, saying: "Jamie plays games like that, doesn't he? He puts them favourites to put the pressure off Liverpool, a little bit, there's a little bit of that.
"But we all sit here and say, who's going to win the league and we're all going to say Arsenal now and that's putting pressure on them."
The Gunners have enjoyed an impressive run of form with six consecutive triumphs across all competitions, including three Premier League victories, and currently sit three points clear of second-placed Manchester City.
In their latest match, the Gunners delivered a convincing victory over Atletico, marking another win for Mikel Arteta's squad.
Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli put Arsenal comfortably ahead with a 2-0 lead, before Viktor Gyokeres added to the tally with a rapid double.
English (US) ·