Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has refused to rule out a Premier League top-four finish for Liverpool after the Reds’ 2-0 win over Everton on Tuesday.
Goals from Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo ensured a stunning victory at Anfield over Premier League strugglers Everton, who are 18th in the league table.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp faced mounting pressure over his side’s disappointing run of form this season, with the Reds 10 points adrift from the top four.
The Reds’ win over Everton moved them ahead of Chelsea to ninth place in the table ahead of their huge trip away to fourth-place Newcastle on Saturday.
A win for Klopp’s men would narrow the distance with Newcastle to seven points, with Liverpool also having a match in hand over the Magpies.
Speaking after the Everton match, Carragher insisted that Liverpool face a “vital” test in their top-four challenge when they come up against Newcastle.
The Liverpool legend added that the Reds could be “back in the equation” for a Champions League place qualification spot with a win over Eddie Howe’s men.
“[Jurgen] Klopp has just got to hope Liverpool can now go on and try to make some sort of fight for that top-four position,” Carragher said.
“I still think it’s a big outside chance for them to make top four. Liverpool’s next game away at Newcastle is vital.
“If they get three points in that game, then I think they are back in the equation. There’s still so long in the season to go.
“Liverpool have certainly looked like their old selves for a lot of this game. Sometimes one big result in a big game can spark something.
“Could they have a Champions League run?”
Newcastle will welcome Liverpool to St James’ Park on the weekend, with kick-off slated for 5:30pm UK time.
Gary Neville hilariously bullies Jamie Carragher about the ‘Carragher Zone’
Gary Neville hilariously mocked Jamie Carragher following Liverpool’s win over Everton, getting in his colleague’s ear whilst he attempted to do some analysis.
Whether it’s getting in an argument with each other or having a joke, there’s little better when it comes to an on screen bromance than Neville and Carragher.
The enemies turned frenemies are often a highlight of Monday Night Football, usually when they’re giving their post match analysis.
It was no different this week, as Liverpool beat Everton in the Merseyside derby, thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo.
Being that it was the game between the club he used to play for and the club he used to support as a child, it was obviously right in Carragher’s wheelhouse.
Rather than his usual accomplice, he was actually doing co-commentary with former Everton star Leon Osman, and the ex midfielder also joined him to do some post match analysis.
Whilst looking over Gakpo’s goal, the two men were interrupted in their ear pieces by Neville attempting to put off his former rival.
Neville was hilariously talking to Carragher calling the defending by Conor Coady ‘Carragher-Land,’ referring to the distance between the centre back and the full back.
Everton had looked to get themselves back on track, following Frank Lampard’s sacking, when they shocked Arsenal by winning their first game under Sean Dyche.
However, nine days on from that win, they were closer to their form from the rest of the season than what they’d shown against the Gunners.
Carragher wasn’t impressed at all, ripping into them at full time, “I’ll never be too critical of Everton coming to Anfield, not even at Goodison, not dominating the ball and getting on the ball and making big chances, but I think they’ve really let themselves down,” he said on Sky Sports.
“They’ve frozen on this occasion, I just haven’t seen that pressing and getting in people’s faces that we saw – certainly last week, and certainly expected them today.
“I really feared how Liverpool would actually cope with Everton in this game having watched that game with Arsenal, certainly watching Liverpool the last few weeks.
“You have to also give credit to Liverpool, they’re looking like their normal selves in some senses.”
The Reds bounced back from last week’s mauling at the hands of Wolverhampton Wanderers, to secure their first league win of 2023.
