Arsenal ensured that Liverpool remained in touching distance with an emphatic victory over Manchester City at the weekend. But Jamie Carragher has issued a blunt reminder.
It was a weekend that had the potential to define the Premier League title race. Liverpool travelled to in-form Bournemouth, a day before Arsenal had to take on Pep Guardiola's men.
As ever, Arne Slot's side got the job done with an impressive 2-0 win, heaping huge pressure on the Gunners for the match against their bitter rival of the past two seasons. But proceedings at the Emirates were ultimately serene, as Arsenal delivered a statement 5-1 victory.
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That reduced the gap at the top of the table back to six points, with Liverpool's game in hand against Everton now looming on the horizon. The margin for error remains relatively small, especially with a game against Arsenal still to come right at the business end of the campaign.
But there's no denying that Liverpool remains the favorite for the title. And Carragher has warned Arsenal that this thumping victory over Man City will become little more than a historical footnote if it is not backed up by the Premier League trophy.
"It’s one of those games that they will remember for a long time, to beat Manchester City 5-1," Carragher said on Monday Night Football. "But they’ll remember it even more if they go on to win the title.
"What they don’t want is this rivalry that Newcastle and Manchester United had all those years ago, but Man United won the league. Newcastle say "one season, we beat them 5-0" — who cares?
"They didn’t go on to win the title. The big thing, this was a great game, a brilliant night, standout victory, but we will remember it even more if they go on and win the league title, and that’s the main aim for this team."
Liverpool.com says: Liverpool itself has some first-hand experience of what Carragher is talking about. Unfortunately, so do I. I was lucky enough to be at the Liverpool vs Manchester City game in 2013/14. The Reds raced into a two-goal lead, only to be pegged back — but then Philippe Coutinho struck to make it 3-2, and Anfield rang with a chorus of "we're going to win the league".
Isolating how I felt at the time, it remains one of my best ever experiences at a football match. But it's more or less impossible to separate from the disappointment that followed.
Arsenal will protest that this season is slightly different, given that even its win over Man City has not placed destiny in its own hands. The title is not Mikel Arteta's to throw away, and therefore this victory cannot be tainted in the same way.
But fairly or not, the same logic will apply. Arsenal's big result has the makings of a coming-of-age performance — but if it is still only good enough for second place, it will count for very little when all is said and done.
