Jamie Carragher, a Liverpool legend and commentator, said that after Manchester City signed superstar goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain, he changed his view on City's Premier League title prospects.
At the start of the season, he thought City had no chance of winning the title at all because there was an obvious problem in the goalkeeper position, but now they have a goalkeeper who can help them win the league. Before signing Donnarumma, without bringing in a goalkeeper of this caliber, they had absolutely no chance of competing for the title.
Donnarumma once again delivered an excellent performance, helping Manchester City defeat Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield and keeping the title race in suspense.
Manchester City made a surprise move to sign the Italian international at the end of the summer transfer window, eventually bringing him to the Etihad Stadium for £26 million.
James Trafford had previously joined from Burnley for £31 million and was originally seen as City's first-choice goalkeeper this season, but the England U21 star was quickly replaced by Donnarumma, who has won both the Champions League and the European Championship.
Although Manchester City have not been at their best this season, they are still in a fierce title race with Arsenal, and Donnarumma has stepped up on multiple occasions.
In the closing stages of this thrilling Premier League showdown on Sunday, the 26-year-old made a brilliant save to block Alexis Mac Allister's shot, helping City hold on to the victory.
After Szoboszlai scored a brilliant free kick, Manchester City once seemed set to trail league leaders Arsenal by nine points.
Pep Guardiola's side were still behind with only 10 minutes left in the game, but thanks to two late winning goals from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland, they finally took three points from Anfield.
Carragher still backs Arsenal, who are six points ahead, to win their first league title since 2004, but he emphasized that Donnarumma has the ability to lead City to lift the Premier League trophy, and before signing Donnarumma, City had absolutely no chance of competing for the title.
"At the start of the season, I thought Manchester City had no chance of winning the title at all because there was an obvious problem in the goalkeeper position," Carragher told Sky Sports after City's win over Liverpool.
"No one can win the Premier League without a top goalkeeper. And Donnarumma is undoubtedly such a player— a Champions League winner and a member of Italy's European Championship-winning team."
"They now have a goalkeeper who can help them win the league. Before signing him, without bringing in a goalkeeper of this caliber, they had absolutely no chance of competing for the title."
City's match-winner Haaland also praised Donnarumma highly, calling him the "best goalkeeper in the world."
"You all saw in the second half that Liverpool played football of a very high standard," Haaland said.
"Look at Gigi (Donnarumma)'s save— it was incredible. That's why he's the best in the world."
"To be honest, Anfield has always been a tough place to play, and we know that very well. We started well, stayed in the game, and never gave up."
"In the end, this is the attitude we need to maintain. We have to start winning— that's the most important thing, it's as simple as that."
Arsenal won 3-0 against Sunderland on Saturday to remain top of the table, with Gyokeres— who joined for £64 million in the summer transfer window— scoring twice.
Mikel Arteta's team are chasing their first Premier League title in 22 years and will face London rivals Brentford on Thursday evening local time. Manchester City will play Fulham the day before Arsenal's away game against Brentford, when the gap at the top of the table could narrow to three points.