Manchester City, the reigning Premier League champions, find themselves in unfamiliar territory. Their recent 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium left them trailing the league leaders by 20 points. This marked their eighth league defeat of the season, placing Pep Guardiola’s side outside the Champions League qualification spots in fifth place.
Despite investing nearly £200 million in new signings during the January transfer window, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes City still require major reinforcements this summer. He insists that Guardiola must focus on key areas to restore the team’s dominance.
Right-Back Concerns and Doku’s Impact
One of the primary concerns for Carragher is the right-back position, especially after the departure of Kyle Walker to AC Milan. He argues that City lack a dependable replacement and must prioritize strengthening that area in the upcoming transfer window.
Carragher also expressed doubts over £55 million signing Jeremy Doku. While the Belgian winger showcased his dribbling ability against Liverpool, repeatedly troubling Trent Alexander-Arnold, his end product was lacking. With just six league goals in the past two seasons, Carragher questions whether Doku has the quality to succeed at Manchester City.
“I think right-back is a big issue for City,” Carragher said on The Overlap with Sky Bet. “As for Doku, he caused problems against Trent, but is he really good enough for Man City?”
Winger Quality and Defensive Issues
Carragher further highlighted City’s struggles on the wings, comparing their current options to the likes of Leroy Sané, Raheem Sterling, and Riyad Mahrez, who provided pace, goals, and creativity in previous seasons. He believes City are now lacking elite-level wide players, which has contributed to their attacking inconsistency.
Former England midfielder Paul Scholes echoed similar concerns, pointing out City’s defensive instability this season. He emphasized that constant changes in the backline and inconsistent performances from the goalkeeper have led to problems keeping clean sheets.
“This season, their biggest issue has been keeping the opposition out,” Scholes said. “The defensive lineup is always changing, and I’m not sure the goalkeeper has been at his best either.”
Tottenham Clash and Postecoglou’s Perspective
Manchester City now face a crucial test as they aim to bounce back from three losses in four matches. They take on Tottenham in their next fixture, hoping to regain momentum in the title race.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, however, cautioned against dismissing City too soon. He acknowledged their recent struggles but reminded critics of the incredibly high standards Guardiola’s team has maintained over the years.
“They’ve set an unbelievable Manchester City Smash Transfer Record With Huge January Spending Spree under Pep,” Postecoglou said. “Winning four in a row is something unheard of. Naturally, that kind of dominance isn’t sustainable forever. But if they come back next season and win it again, making it five out of six, people will realize they’re still an incredible team.”
With questions surrounding squad depth and key positions, all eyes will be on Guardiola this summer to see how he addresses City’s shortcomings and ensures they remain contenders for major trophies.
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