‘The biggest difference’ - Former England stars disagree on Newcastle United’s Champions League ambitions

Former England stars Karen Carney and Jamie Carragher have disagreed over Newcastle United’s hopes of ending their 20-year absence from the Champions League this season.

Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at reigning Premier League champions Manchester City left Eddie Howe’s side four point adrift of fourth placed Tottenham Hotspur. That gap would have been increased had the North London club not fallen to a narrow away loss at Wolverhampton Wanderers just hours after the Magpies were left empty-handed from their visit to the Etihad Stadium.

Liverpool moved into fifth place in the table on Sunday afternoon after they romped to a seven-goal win against arch rivals Manchester United - but Howe’s men still have the benefit of holding games in hand over the two sides immediately above them in the table.

Lionesses legend Carney - who won 144 caps during a 14-year international career - believes United’s run to the Carabao Cup Final may have had an impact on their recent downturn in form and is adamant a lack of creativity may hamper their bid for a top four place.

Speaking on Sky Sports Monday Night Football, she said: “I think getting to the cup final had an impact.

“I don’t know whether they had an eye on that and there was a bit of a shift in that. It’s just goals. Defensively they’re solid, they get into good positions and win it back from other people’s mistakes. But it’s creating something themselves, and that’s why they went in for (James) Maddison and people like that, players that can create something and get the goals and create chances.

“That’ll be the difference why I don’t think they’ll make the top four - the goals is the biggest difference for them.”

Former Liverpool defender Carragher insisted that United’s strong defensive record - which remains the best in the Premier League - will continue to give them a chance to win the race for the top four.

However, he did concede strikers Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak will need to ‘find some goals to make the difference’ between now and the end of the season.

“I’m not writing them off and the reason is that run can’t go on forever,” explained the former Liverpool defender.

“They are too good a team to go that long without winning. The problem is in front of goal but the big plus point they have got it the defensive record is fantastic. So they’re always in games and more often than not Newcastle don’t need a lot of goals to win games. But there has been a problem for them of late. Callum Wilson doesn’t seem the same player since he’s come back from the World Cup, Isak had more than a great cameo when he came on in the cup final. So between the two of them they will need to find some goals to make the difference.

“I will not be writing them off at all, I think they are right in this.”