Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville engaged in a heated debate regarding Neville`s predictions for the Premier League title.
The former Manchester United defender had predicted that Arsenal would be crowned champions before the current season even began.
However, speaking recently (ahead of Arsenal drawing 2-2 with the title winners), Neville attributed the Gunners` failure to win the league to their lack of a striker signing.
Carragher agreed that a striker was needed but accused his Sky Sports colleague of hypocrisy, arguing: “It`s obvious now, looking at their situation, that they need a striker, and I`m sure they`ll sign one in the summer. But were *you* saying this about a striker at the start of the season? Why did you tip them for the league then?”
He continued, “You tipped them for the league before the season, so don`t now claim they needed a striker because they`ve had injuries up front.”
Carragher`s point was clear: “If you back a team to win the league, you can`t then say later in the season, `They should have bought a striker, what was Arteta doing?`”
Neville defended his earlier prediction, explaining: “On August 15, there were three weeks left in the transfer window. I thought they would sign a striker then or in January, and they didn`t.”
The debate intensified as Carragher pushed back: “Who? Who? You tipped Arsenal for the title, so don`t now say Mikel Arteta made a mistake about the striker!”
Neville retorted: “Oh my God, Carra, everyone, including Arsenal`s fanbase, has been saying they need a striker for two or three seasons. I genuinely think Arsenal could have won the league this year. I`m hugely disappointed they didn`t. They should have been stronger contenders. This isn`t about Liverpool; they`ve been fantastic. The issue is with Arsenal, who arguably went backward by not signing a striker last year, something I`ve been saying for a long time.”
He concluded by emphasizing that his view on Arsenal needing a striker wasn`t new, but something he`d maintained for “two or three years.”
Separately, Jamie Carragher shared his own pre-season title prediction. Despite his allegiance to Liverpool, he didn`t foresee them winning the league this season. He predicted Manchester City would win again, with Liverpool finishing third.
Neville`s own pre-season prediction had Liverpool finishing fifth, with his former club Manchester United placing third.
