Jamie Carragher names key factor that could give Liverpool title advantage

Jamie Carragher has pointed towards the atmosphere surrounding Jurgen Klopp's final season as the potentially pivotal factor in this season's title race.

Liverpool take on Manchester City this afternoon in a game that will prove crucial at the top of the Premier League.

They go into the game missing a smattering of key names - with Ibrahima Konate the latest to join their growing injury list.

However, Reds legend Carragher believes that even if Klopp's side isn't as strong as City's, they can still pull off a vital result with the backing of a rabid Anfield crowd.

Assessing Liverpool's title chances, he told Sky Sports' Super Sunday: "I think if Liverpool are going to win the league, they’ll need to look back at this game and see that they got three points.

"It’s not over if you draw or if you lose but City have got a much tougher schedule over the next few weeks and if they drop points here, I don’t know if they’ll be able to make up the difference.

"I don’t actually think Liverpool are a better team than Manchester City, I don’t think they have better players individually.

"But for me, it’s the atmosphere that can make the difference - it’s Anfield, playing at home, the feeling around the city, the fact that Klopp might never face Pep Guardiola here again in the Premier League.

"It’s all of those little things that can give Liverpool the edge today."

Carragher's punditry colleague Roy Keane has also weighed in on the title race, insisting that even after today's contest, picking an eventual league winner is too much of a close call.

Keane said: "When you look at the background, the context of the match with Jurgen Klopp leaving at the end of the season, they've already won one trophy this season but I'm always reluctant to write off Manchester City and Pep Guardiola.

"What they've done over the last few years has been incredible and for me, it’s a hard one to call."