Jamie Carragher says who he thinks will be a 'much stronger proposition' in the new Premier League season

Virgin Radio

4 Aug 2022, 10:56

Football pundit and former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher joined the Chris Evans Breakfast Show with Sky to talk about the start of the 2022/23 Premier League season, which, excitingly, kicks off this weekend!

The new season starts on Friday (5th August) at 8pm, with Crystal Palace vs Arsenal live and exclusive on Sky Sports Premier League. Jamie told Ricky Wilson, who is in this week for Chris: “It will be a tough start for Arsenal, that. They’ll want to get off to a better start to the season than they did last season when they opened... on the Friday night at Brentford, but I think they’ll be a much stronger proposition this season.” 

He added: “All the talk is of Arsenal’s behind-the-scenes documentary at the moment, so hopefully they’ll be able to do their talking on the pitch tomorrow.” 

Sky Sports will show 128 games exclusively live this season, and Jamie has featured in the adverts for Sky’s coverage, which features the tagline, ‘It’s only live once’. Speaking about appearing in the ads, he joked: “I enjoy doing them. I don’t think I enjoy watching them as much!” 

Jamie played as a defender for Premier League club Liverpool during a career which spanned 17 years. Speaking about his time on the pitch and now behind the microphone, he said: “I’m very lucky to have played for the club I love for so long, and now I work with the man that I didn’t love, Gary Neville! That’ll be starting tomorrow!”

Sky’s team also includes Jamie Redknapp, Graeme Souness, Micah Richards and Roy Keane, whilst Kelly Cates and David Jones will present live coverage across Friday Night Football, Saturday Night Football, Super Sunday and Monday Night Football. Jamie said: “I am very lucky that I’m still in the game. It’s not easy for a lot of ex-players now, whether to go into coaching, management or get a gig on the TV. So, I am well aware how fortunate we are, and hopefully that enthusiasm comes across, because I think you can always say, the lads and girls who work for Sky Sports, we really love it.”

On whether he’s jealous of footballers still playing the game now that he’s hung up his boots, Jamie said: “I mean, I might be jealous of the wages they’re on now, but I’m sure that [legendary Liverpool defender] Tommy Smith was saying that when I was playing!”

Regarding how current players react to what he might say about their performances during his punditry, the former defender said: “I don’t try to mix in those circles too much now, with the players, more with the ex-players. I’m not sure we’ll go down too well if we bumped into any of the players at the moment. But hopefully they listen and take some of it in.”

He continued: “In the back of my mind, I’m always thinking that they’re after our jobs as well, when they finish. So, whether they like us, or criticise us, or whether they respect us, whatever it may be, I think, when they finish playing, they’ll all want that seat, so I’ll try to keep hold of it for as long as I can!”

When Ricky asked how Jamie is preparing for the season with Sky, he responded: “We’re going down today to speak to the media… a big build-up for the season, and tomorrow we have Crystal Palace against Arsenal, the first Friday Night Football of the season. So it’s really exciting to get together with the lads today. We’ll go for a meal tonight, and the preparation really is just reading the papers, watching Sky Sports News, checking your phone and social media, so you know exactly what’s going on with all the clubs, to keep abreast of it all.”

He added: “I’ll have a little look at the stat pack tonight. We get sent one of them before every game. So, find out how the teams are doing in pre-season, and I’ll see how it goes Friday!”

The Premier League kicks off this Friday at 8pm on Sky Sports Premier League. 

For more great interviews listen to  The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with Sky, weekdays from 6:30am on Virgin Radio, or  catch up on-demand here.