Jamie Carragher has openly questioned where Florian Wirtz could possibly fit into Jurgen Klopp's successor Andoni Iraola's Liverpool side, suggesting that the £116.5 million German may be a symptom of what could become the most disastrous transfer window in Premier League history. In his scathing analysis of Liverpool's midfield after the 2‑2 stalemate with Newcastle, the former Liverpool defender highlighted a series of tactical flaws that, in his view, will cripple any serious title ambitions this campaign. Carragher began by stating that the current midfield configuration simply cannot operate with the players available.
"I don't believe that midfield can function with the personnel in there," he said, adding that the problem is not just the individuals but the structural demands placed on them by the manager. On the night at St James' Park Liverpool deployed Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai in the centre of the park, while Wirtz was positioned as a No 10.
Rather than anchoring a double‑pivot, Szoboszlai repeatedly drifted forward into attacking zones, leaving the midfield overly exposed. Drawing a parallel with Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, Carragher noted that City’s success with a double‑pivot and a dedicated No 10 is underpinned by full‑backs who tuck inside to provide defensive cover. "Why does Guardiola always bring his full‑backs inside? Because the holding midfielder needs help to stop counter‑attacks," he explained.
Liverpool, by contrast, lack that safety net, creating a glaring vulnerability against quick transitions. Carragher illustrated his point by showing clips of both Szoboszlai and Gravenberch making forward runs that left the centre of the pitch vacant, allowing Newcastle to exploit the space and launch swift counters. The former defender was blunt about the offensive mindset of the trio: "All they think about is going forwards.
All three of them. And that's why it can't work." He went further, claiming that, apart from the two centre‑backs, no other player in the Premier League thinks as offensively as Liverpool's midfield trio.
This aggressive posture, according to Carragher, is compounded by an apparent instruction from Iraola for Wirtz and Szoboszlai to "lock on" to opposition midfielders, a tactic that works only if the defence can shift to cover the resulting gaps. Carragher contrasted Liverpool's approach with Brentford's recent success against Tottenham, where the Brentford centre‑backs stepped up to close the space left behind by their high‑pressing midfield. Liverpool's veteran defender Virgil van Dijk, however, remained deep, refusing to press forward and thereby exposing the team to dangerous holes. "It's like Manchester United under Erik ten Hag a few years ago – a team that wanted to press high but kept a deep block," Carragher said, emphasizing that the mismatch between the midfield's forward thrust and the defence's static line creates a structural flaw.
He also warned that Van Dijk appears to need "protecting, cuddling, looking after" – a subtle jab at the ageing defender's declining mobility. Carragher concluded that Liverpool must bring in a genuine holding midfielder to give Gravenberch a partner capable of shielding against rapid breaks. "Liverpool need someone alongside Gravenberch," he asserted, adding that the new recruit need not be a pure destroyer but should be comfortable on the ball and possess the stamina to cover ground.
In his view, Szoboszlai should be moved into the No 10 role, leaving Wirtz without a clear function. When asked where Wirtz could slot in, Carragher was unequivocal: he sees no suitable role for the German in Iraola's system.
Wirtz's statistics – just five goals and three assists in 33 league appearances last season – reinforce his skepticism. "I don't think there's a myth about it taking a year to settle in the Premier League," Carragher said. "I don't see where he fits in at all, really." He further criticised the decision to place Wirtz in a left‑side pocket, a position that mirrors his role for Germany but clashes with Iraola's preference for energetic wingers who hug the touchline. Carragher summed up his view of the German as a "neat and tidy" player, praising his touch but doubting that he justifies a £110 million price tag.
In his estimation, a valuation of £50‑60 million would be more realistic. The broader context, according to Carragher, is that Liverpool embarked on an unprecedented £445 million spending spree last summer, aiming to bolster Arne Slot's title‑contending squad. The acquisitions – including Alexander Isak for a Premier League record £125 million, Hugo Ekitike (£79 million), Milos Kerkez (£40 million), Jeremie Frimpong (£29.5 million), Giorgi Mamardashvili (£29 million) and Giovanni Leoni (£26 million) – have largely failed to deliver. Carragher warned that this transfer window could be remembered as the worst ever for a top‑flight English club.
He argued that the influx of new players has not translated into performance, noting that Liverpool conceded 78 goals across all competitions last season, 53 of which came in the league – a club record for goals conceded in a Premier League campaign. The manager's focus on wingers and attacking flair, rather than defensive solidity, has left the team vulnerable.
"If this doesn't change in the next two or three months, under Iraola, and these players improve, I think we're going to be looking at that as arguably the worst transfer window we've probably seen in Premier League history," Carragher warned. Looking ahead, Carragher expressed little optimism about Liverpool's title chances. He highlighted the departure of Mohamed Salah, the uncertain future of Van Dijk, and the potential exit of Alisson as further blows to a squad that once dominated English football. "I don't think Liverpool will be contenders this season," he concluded.
"If they qualify for the Champions League, I'd be happy – the manager will settle, the new signings will find their feet, and maybe then they can look to challenge again."