Carragher doubts Man City can sustain title bid after guilty verdict

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Jamie Carragher has questioned whether Manchester City can keep up their blistering start to the season in the wake of the Premier League's guilty verdict — an assessment that has obvious implications for Arsenal's bid to retain the title.

City have won seven games in a row under new manager Enzo Maresca and sit top of the table. Off the pitch, though, the club were found guilty of all charges relating to breaches of Premier League financial rules between 2009 and 2018, with the verdict stating that City 'relied on sham agreements to artificially inflate the club's revenues and reduce its costs'. The club have appealed.

'Everyone is baying for blood'

Speaking on The Overlap, the former Liverpool defender argued that the atmosphere awaiting City on the road will become a factor across the campaign.

'I think the problem Man City are going to have this season – if we just think about this season for a minute and Enzo Maresca and the current players,' Carragher said. 'They're top of the league at the minute and have been the best team in the early part of the season.'

'I just find it very difficult to imagine they will keep that going because every away game you go to will be the best atmosphere in that ground this season or very close to it. Everyone is baying for blood.'

City's first fixture since the verdict is a trip to Anfield.

Carragher on punishment

Asked how the Premier League should sanction City, Carragher dismissed the idea of a single, enormous points deduction. 'I've heard people talk about a 100-point deduction, but that's just over one season that gets them relegated and then they will come back again,' he said.

'Looking at the current players, a few of them would leave, but I think some of them would say, "I could put up with that for a year." It also builds a connection with the supporters, it'll be seen in a great light.'

He continued: 'But I think because this has gone on for so long, I do think the punishment should be over a number of years, three to five years and then players would move on. But then you've got the financial aspect of how can they afford the wages of those players if they haven't got Premier League money?'

Carragher also said he believes the position of City's owners is untenable. 'These owners, I said straight away that I don't know how they can continue. How can you ever trust them if they're found guilty of this?' he said, adding that he expects the club to continue contesting the case rather than accept any sanction.

For Arsenal, the practical question is a simpler one. The defending champions are chasing back-to-back Premier League titles, and Carragher's view is that the side currently ahead of the pack will struggle to maintain that level amid the off-field noise.

The appeal process, and any punishment that follows, will run alongside a title race that is only seven matchdays old.