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 might be part of what could become the most disastrous transfer window in Premier League history. In a scathing review of Liverpool's midfield during their 2-2 stalemate with Newcastle United, the former defender dissected the tactical shortcomings he believes are holding the Reds back from any realistic title challenge this campaign. Carragher began by stating that the current midfield configuration simply cannot operate with the players on the pitch.
"I don't believe that midfield can function with the personnel in there," he said, adding that the problem lies not only in the individual quality of the squad but also in the structural demands placed on them by the manager. At St James' Park, Liverpool lined up Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai alongside the newly‑signed Wirtz, who was positioned as a traditional No 10. However, instead of forming a stable double pivot, Szoboszlai repeatedly drifted forward into attacking zones, leaving the centre of the park exposed.
The former England international highlighted the contrast with Manchester City, where Pep Guardiola has historically paired a double‑pivot with a No 10, but only after pulling his full‑backs inside to protect against quick counters. "Why did Pep always bring his full‑backs inside? Because the holding midfield player needed help to stop counter‑attacks," Carragher explained, noting that Liverpool lack that kind of defensive cover.
He illustrated his point by showing clips of both Szoboszlai and Gravenberch making forward runs that left huge gaps for Newcastle to exploit. "All they think about is going forwards.
All three of them. And that's why it can't work," Carragher asserted. He went on to claim that, aside from the two centre‑backs, he has never seen a Premier League side where every outfield player is so offensively minded.
The pundit also suggested that Iraola appears to be instructing Wirtz and Szoboszlai to "lock on" to the opposition midfield, a tactic that can work only if the defensive line drops deep enough to fill the void. Liverpool's solution in a similar scenario was Brentford’s aggressive pressing against Tottenham, where the Brentford centre‑backs stepped up to close the space left behind. By contrast, Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool’s 35‑year‑old defensive stalwart, chose to sit deeper, creating a dangerous space between the back line and the midfield. Carragher likened the situation to Manchester United under Erik ten Hag, describing it as a high‑pressing team that still operates with a deep block, resulting in "big holes" in the middle of the park.
He warned that Van Dijk now needs "protecting, cuddling, looking after" him, and that Liverpool must recruit a genuine holding midfielder to plug the gaps. "Liverpool need someone alongside Gravenberch," Carragher said. "It doesn't necessarily have to be a pure destroyer, but a player who can win the ball, carry it forward and run with it.
Szoboszlai should move into the No 10 role, which would free up space for a more balanced midfield shape." When asked where Wirtz would fit in such a re‑shaped system, Carragher was blunt: he sees no viable role for the German under Iraola's current setup. Wirtz’s statistical output last season—five goals and three assists in 33 league appearances—does not justify a £110 million price tag, according to the pundit. "The myth that it takes a year to settle in the Premier League is largely unfounded," he argued, adding that he had anticipated this dilemma within six weeks of the season’s start.
Carragher criticized Iraola’s apparent obsession with wingers and high‑energy flank players, noting that Liverpool conceded 78 goals across all competitions last season, 53 of them in the league, the highest total they have ever allowed in a Premier League campaign. He suggested that Wirtz could perhaps be used in a left‑side pocket, mirroring his role for Germany, but dismissed that as unlikely given Iraola’s preference for wide, pace‑driven attackers.
The former Liverpool captain also reflected on the massive £445 million spending spree that characterised Liverpool’s summer transfer window. Alongside Wirtz, the club splashed out on Alexander Isak (£125 million, a Premier League record), Hugo Ekitike (£79 million), Milos Kerkez (£40 million), Jeremie Frimpong (£29.5 million), goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili (£29 million) and Giovanni Leoni (£26 million). Carragher warned that this influx of high‑priced signings could set Liverpool back a year or two if they fail to integrate quickly, potentially making this the worst transfer window ever witnessed by a Premier League side. He stressed that the previous season’s failures were not solely about the new players, but also about the tactical shift under Arne Slot, whose style differed markedly from Klopp’s.
"Slot held his players back, but now under Iraola we have twelve months of under‑performance from almost every new signing except perhaps Ekitike," Carragher said. He warned that unless the squad shows tangible improvement within the next two to three months, the window will be remembered as a cautionary tale of overspending and mismanagement. Looking ahead, Carragher expressed little optimism about Liverpool’s chances of challenging for the title this season. "I don't think Liverpool will be contenders this season.
They're in transition," he concluded, noting the recent departures of Mohamed Salah, the uncertain future of Van Dijk, and the eventual exit of Alisson. He suggested that a realistic short‑term goal would be to secure a Champions League place, giving the manager and the new signings time to settle and potentially build a platform for future success.