Liverpool won the Premier League for the first time in three decades last season but their quest to retain the title have been dented by the news that influential defender Van Dijk will require surgery on a knee injury sustained against Everton over the weekend.
Van Dijk was substituted in the first half of the 2-2 draw between Liverpool and Everton at Goodison Park after he was clattered into by Toffees goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
The 2019 UEFA Men’s Best Player looks set to miss majority of the campaign, with a period of at least six months likely to be spent on the treatment table.
Carragher believes Van Dijk’s absence will invite their rivals to mount title challenges of their own.
"Well, I think the big question you look at now, you think, [is] can Liverpool win the league without Van Dijk there?" he told Sky Sports.
"I think every team has three or four players in every title-winning team who think they can win the title, and if one of those players are missing, no matter how good your manager is, no matter how big your squad is, you can't cover for them, they're that outstanding.
"So I think it blows the title race wide open, I really do. I still felt at the start of this season that Liverpool certainly were the team to beat, and I think with Van Dijk being out for what looks like the whole season, now I think it's going to be all on."
Manager Jurgen Klopp has been left with Joe Gomez and Joel Matip as his remaining central defensive options.
