Jamie Carragher has openly questioned the place of Florian Wirtz in Jürgen Klopp's successor Andoni Iraola's Liverpool side, suggesting that the £116.5 million German could become a symbol of what might turn out to be the Premier League's most disastrous summer of spending. In a scathing review of Liverpool's midfield during their 2-2 stalemate with Newcastle United, the former defender highlighted a series of structural flaws that, in his view, will keep the Reds from mounting a genuine title challenge this season. Carragher began by pointing out that the current midfield configuration simply does not work with the players at its disposal.
"I don't believe that midfield can function with the personnel in there," he said, adding that the problem is not only about the individuals but also about the tactical framework imposed by the manager. On the night in question Liverpool deployed Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai alongside Wirtz, who was positioned as a traditional No 10. Rather than operating as a deep‑lying pivot, Szoboszlai frequently surged forward into attacking zones, leaving the central area exposed. The pundit drew a parallel with Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, noting that the Spanish coach often drags his full‑backs inside to shield a holding midfielder and prevent quick counters.
"Why does Pep always bring his full‑backs inside? Because the holding midfield player needs help to stop counter‑attacks," Carragher argued, implying that Liverpool lack that protective layer. He illustrated his point by showing clips of both Szoboszlai and Gravenberch making forward runs, effectively vacating the midfield and granting Newcastle space to launch dangerous breaks. "All they think about is going forwards.
All three of them. And that's why it can't work," Carragher remarked. He went on to claim that, apart from the two centre‑backs, no other player in the Premier League thinks as offensively as Liverpool's midfield trio. This relentless forward thrust, according to him, creates a permanent vulnerability that opponents can exploit.
Carragher also suggested that Iraola appears to have instructed Wirtz and Szoboszlai to 'lock on' to opposition midfielders, a tactic that works for teams like Brentford when their centre‑backs step up to close the gaps. Liverpool's own defensive stalwart, Virgil van Dijk, however, remained deep, refusing to press forward and thereby leaving a sizeable hole between the back line and the midfield. "You've got a situation, like at Manchester United under Erik ten Hag a few years ago – a team that wants to press high but sits deep behind," Carragher explained, highlighting the mismatch between the pressing intent and the defensive shape.
Regarding Van Dijk, Carragher was unusually protective, saying, "He needs protecting, he needs cuddling, he needs looking after." He concluded that Liverpool must acquire a true holding midfielder to give Gravenberch a partner capable of shielding the defence against swift transitions. "Liverpool need someone alongside Gravenberch," he said, stressing that the new recruit should not be a pure destroyer but also comfortable on the ball and capable of covering ground. If a defensive midfielder arrives and Szoboszlai shifts into the No 10 role, the question remains: where does Wirtz fit? Carragher is blunt: he sees no viable position for the German under Iraola's system.
He pointed out that Wirtz's statistical output last season – five goals and three assists in 33 league games – does not justify a £110 million price tag. "I don't think there's a myth about it taking a year to settle in the Premier League," he argued, dismissing the idea that Wirtz simply needs more time.
Carragher warned that the current set‑up is unsustainable. "What's Iraola going to do with Wirtz? You can't keep going with it, it's not working," he said, adding that Liverpool conceded 78 goals in all competitions last season, 53 of which came in the league – a record high for the club.
He questioned the club's obsession with buying wingers, noting that Iraola prefers energetic flank players rather than a creative midfielder who could operate in a left‑handed pocket, as Wirtz does for Germany. He further argued that Wirtz is being over‑valued. "I don't think we're seeing a massive underperformance. I think what we've seen for a year is probably what he is, which is a neat and tidy footballer, not a player who should be worth £110 million," Carragher said, suggesting a more realistic valuation of £50‑60 million.
The broader context is Liverpool's massive £445 million spending spree last summer, which included not only Wirtz but also Alexander Isak (£125 million, a Premier League record), Hugo Ekitike (£79 million), Milos Kerkez (£40 million), Jeremie Frimpong (£29.5 million), Giorgi Mamardashvili (£29 million) and Giovanni Leoni (£26 million). Carragher believes this window could rank as the worst in Premier League history for a single club. "My fear is this window of 12 months ago could set Liverpool back a year or two to fix it," he warned.
He contrasted the current era with the previous season under Arne Slot, noting that the previous campaign's failures were largely tactical rather than personnel‑related. "Last season it was not about these players. Because it was all about Arne Slot and his style of playing," Carragher said, emphasizing that Slot's approach differed markedly from Klopp's and that the new signings have not yet delivered the expected impact.
Looking ahead, Carragher doubts Liverpool will be title contenders this term. "I don't think Liverpool will be contenders this season," he said, adding that the club is in transition and has lost three of its all‑time greats – Mohamed Salah, Van Dijk (who may depart), and Alisson. He believes that, at best, Liverpool should aim to qualify for the Champions League, which would be a satisfactory outcome given the current upheaval. In summary, Carragher's verdict is stark: without a proper holding midfielder, a clear role for Wirtz, and a tactical overhaul from Iraola, Liverpool risk squandering one of the biggest transfer investments in English football history and may endure a prolonged period of under‑achievement.