Jamie Carragher has not been shy about his disappointment with Florian Wirtz’s display in Liverpool’s recent away match at Bournemouth. Speaking on Sky Sports’ live commentary, the former Liverpool defender described the German midfielder’s showing as "one of the worst I have ever seen him in a Liverpool shirt" and warned that he would be a risky inclusion for the upcoming clash with Manchester City. During the first half of Liverpool’s 1-0 victory at the Vitality Stadium, Carragher repeatedly pointed out Wirtz’s lack of influence.
"He’s been really poor again," he said, adding that "nothing is happening" when the midfielder has the ball. After the final whistle, the pundit went further, suggesting that Wirtz may never fulfil the lofty expectations that were placed on him when he arrived at Anfield.
In a later episode of the Jamie Carragher Podcast, produced by Sky Sports, the former defender elaborated on his concerns. He noted that, while Wirtz usually displays tidy possession work and can escape tight situations, his recent performances have been underwhelming. "I’ve been critical of his numbers, but normally when you watch Wirtz he’s neat and tidy, he keeps possession, there are things you like. He gets out of a tight situation where you’d normally expect your player to lose the ball," Carragher said.
"The reason I worry is, I don’t think Wirtz is in poor form since he came to Liverpool. I actually think what we’re seeing is what he is." Carragher admitted that doubts about Wirtz had been lingering for about a year. He recalled a match at Burnley where Liverpool won through a late Mo Salah penalty and reflected that, over the past twelve months, Wirtz’s contribution had felt "neat and tidy" but not decisive.
"I don’t see how he’s going to hurt you," Carragher said. "In some way, the price tag for that type of player should be half of what Liverpool have paid." The former defender argued that Liverpool’s original vision for Wirtz was far grander – a player capable of propelling the club to another Premier League title and a deep Champions League run. "The gap he has to close to almost justify what people were expecting is huge," Carragher warned. "Even if he improves a bit, it’s still not what Liverpool thought they were getting." Carragher also highlighted the tactical ripple effect of keeping Wirtz in the No.10 role.
It forces Dominik Szoboszlai to operate in central midfield, a position that, in Carragher’s view, does not suit him. "I don’t think Szoboszlai is a central‑midfield player," he said, emphasizing that the mis‑allocation of roles could further diminish the team’s overall balance.
Looking ahead, Carragher believes that Wirtz should not feature against Manchester City on October 11. He warned that the Bournemouth game was a crucial test for the German, and failure to make an impact there could spell trouble for the rest of the season. "If he doesn’t produce against Bournemouth, he’s then going to have a three‑week break. By the time we come back, we’re into October.
Before you know it, it’ll feel like Christmas. He has to do something!" Carragher urged. Statistically, Wirtz’s first‑half passing accuracy of 63% was the lowest among all Liverpool players, with the next worst figure being 75% from Alexander Isak and Milos Kerkez.
Carragher compared him unfavourably with mid‑table Premier League players who, while not commanding six‑figure fees, consistently contribute goals and assists. He cited Everton’s Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall, who scores every three to four weeks, and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs‑White, whose 45‑minute burst against Aston Villa, in Carragher’s opinion, eclipsed any effort Wirtz has made for Liverpool. The former defender also praised Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola for his willingness to make bold decisions, such as signing Ryan Gravenberch to a lucrative five‑year deal despite the player not featuring regularly.
"He keeps changing the full‑backs, dropped Jeremie Frimpong straight away, Milos Kerkez in and out – he’s making decisions," Carragher observed. Yet he stressed that a decisive call on Wirtz must come soon. "I hope it’s sooner rather than later. Not because I don’t like Florian Wirtz – I’m desperate for the kid to do well – I just want Liverpool to win." There is, however, a glimmer of hope.
During the international break, Jurgen Klopp, who is also Germany’s manager, has selected Wirtz for the Nations League fixtures against Serbia and Greece. Carragher speculated that a successful spell with the German national team could reignite Wirtz’s confidence.
"The one hope for Liverpool supporters now is Jurgen Klopp is the Germany manager," he said. "Can Jurgen sprinkle a bit of stardust on him? If he comes back with goals and assists, Manchester City could be a different story." In summary, Carragher’s assessment is clear: Florian Wirtz’s current output falls far short of the expectations that justified his hefty transfer fee.
Unless the player finds form quickly – either through a standout international tournament or a decisive tactical shift at Anfield – his future at Liverpool looks uncertain, especially with a Manchester City showdown looming on the horizon.