Jamie Carragher has put forward the view that the Premier League title contest has narrowed to two contenders, with Manchester City the club he regards as best placed to unseat Arsenal, who hold the defending champions' status.
A 3-0 victory over Liverpool kept Manchester City's record unblemished at the start of the 2026/27 campaign, with the match arriving as their first outing following a Premier League ruling that the club had breached financial regulations.
Ryan Gravenberch's dismissal — the midfielder having collected his second yellow card of the afternoon — broke Liverpool's defensive hold that had lasted roughly an hour and left the league leaders with an opening to work back into the contest. Two goals arrived for Manchester City within a six-minute spell after Liverpool were reduced to ten players, the first coming when Erling Haaland broke the deadlock and the second when Jeremy Doku bent a finish past Alisson Becker.
Rayan Cherki rounded out the scoring with a third goal in the closing stages as Manchester City secured a win that left the scoreline looking comfortable. A 2-1 victory over Leeds United on Saturday had brought Arsenal level with Enzo Maresca's side, though Manchester City's win at Anfield subsequently opened a three-point gap between the clubs again.
Carragher put forward the view that Arsenal and Manchester City stand apart from the rest of the Premier League field. He went on to suggest that City supporters would cherish the occasion as one of the club's defining nights, while also noting that each additional title the side collects may deepen, rather than ease, the mixed feelings their continued dominance stirs among those outside the club.
A separate pundit, not identified by name, held that widespread public sentiment was against Manchester City on the day, that City supporters would naturally defend their club, and that broader unease across the country would continue to build until the ongoing situation is resolved. The same pundit argued that a resolution was in City's own interests, given that prolonging uncertainty serves neither the club nor the integrity of a title race in which City and Arsenal stand apart from every other contender, leaving observers uncertain what each result means for the final standings.
Carragher noted that while it remained too early in the season to place Manchester City definitively above Arsenal, City had nonetheless secured victories at two of the most demanding away grounds — Anfield and Old Trafford — under testing conditions. He described himself as a longstanding admirer of Enzo Maresca, adding that competitive matches needed to carry more weight than they currently did.
Carragher also recalled that when Maresca brought Chelsea to Liverpool during his opening season — the same campaign in which Liverpool claimed the league title — his tactical approach drew notice, with observers concluding that he possessed the composure and capability to operate at the top level.
Chelsea's Club World Cup victory over PSG drew attention from one commentator, who noted that the London club had outplayed their opponents across the pitch. The same commentator described the managerial appointment at Manchester City as a strong one. The speaker also acknowledged that their opponents have consistently fielded talented players, while noting that how long the current situation holds remains an open question.
