Liverpool legend Jimmy Case says they'd be champions if Jamie Carragher had not retired. Three times a European Cup winner, and a take-no-prisoners midfield enforcer with a right foot like a rifle, Case believes Liverpool would have been champions in May if Jamie Carragher had waited a year to retire.
"Time will tell if they missed the boat, but Liverpool had an exceptional chance of winning the title last year," said Anfield legend Case, now 60, to the Mirror.
"Obviously, Luis Suarez was instrumental in those 101 goals they scored but, when it came to the crunch, they just needed that little bit of extra know-how to get them over the line.
"I was part of a side who won it four times, and we knew what we had to do.
"Six months ago they just lacked that bit of experience, one streetwise old head, who might have made all the difference. If Carragher had stayed on for one more season, Liverpool would have won it.
"He would not have played every game, but the way they lost it against Chelsea and Crystal Palace would not have happened.
"Steven Gerrard might still have slipped against Chelsea, but he would not have been the last man. Carragher would have been covering him and Demba Ba would not have galloped away to score.
"And those three goals in the last 10 minutes at Palace - I know, for a fact, that wouldn't have happened if Jamie had been there to nip it in the bud when the first goal went in.
"He would have organised it and pulled down the shutters. Liverpool would not have let in as many goals as they did last season if Carragher had still been around, so it's his fault!
"That was their big chance, and now there has been a big turnover of players in the summer it's going to take time for everything to settle down.
"I'm hoping they get in the top four again this season, but it will be a tall order. Brendan may have to take a couple of steps back to get the team moving forward again."
