Jamie Carragher has not been shy about his disappointment with Florian Wirtz after the German midfielder’s underwhelming display in Liverpool’s 1-0 victory over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. Speaking on Sky Sports’ live commentary, Carragher described the performance as "really poor again" and suggested that nothing of substance happened when Wirtz touched the ball. In the aftermath, the former Liverpool defender went further, insisting that the midfielder’s showings have been among the weakest he has ever witnessed while wearing the famous red shirt, and he warned that Wirtz should not be selected for the upcoming clash with Manchester City.
During the first half of the Bournemouth game, Wirtz’s passing accuracy hovered at a modest 63 per cent, the lowest figure among all Liverpool players on the pitch. By contrast, the next lowest accuracy recorded by a teammate was 75 per cent, achieved by both Alexander Isak and Milos Kerkez. Carragher seized on this statistic to underline his point that Wirtz’s contributions have been far below the standards expected of a player who commanded a six‑figure fee.
Carragher’s criticism was not limited to raw numbers. He argued that, while Wirtz often demonstrates tidy ball control and an ability to retain possession under pressure, those traits alone do not justify the hype surrounding him. "When you watch Wirtz, he’s neat and tidy, he keeps possession, there are things you like," Carragher said on the bonus Jamie Carragher Podcast produced by Sky Sports. "He gets out of a tight situation where you’d normally expect your player to lose the ball.
But 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." He went on to recall his own doubts about the German’s potential dating back roughly twelve months, admitting that those concerns had lingered in the back of his mind.
Carragher referenced a previous Liverpool away win at Burnley, where a late Mo Salah penalty secured the three points. "When I was watching that game it was what I’ve seen for the last 12 months: I don’t see how he’s going to hurt you. It’s just neat and tidy.
And in some way, the price tag for that type of player should be half of what Liverpool have paid," he asserted. The former defender stressed that the expectations placed on Wirtz were massive. Liverpool had hoped the midfielder would help the club chase another Premier League crown and make a serious push in the Champions League.
"The gap he’s got to close to almost justify what people were expecting is huge. You can’t get there. Even if he improves a bit, it’s still not what Liverpool thought they were getting," Carragher warned.
He also highlighted the tactical ripple effect of Wirtz’s struggles, noting that when Wirtz occupies the No 10 role, it forces Dominik Szoboszlai into an unfamiliar central‑midfield position – a spot the Hungarian does not naturally excel in. Looking ahead, Carragher believes manager Andoni Iraola faces a crucial decision. With Manchester City slated to visit Anfield on October 11 after a three‑week international break, the former Liverpool stalwart argued that Wirtz should not be part of the squad for that marquee fixture.
"I think going forward Iraola’s got a decision to make here. Wirtz would not be in my Liverpool team," he said. "I thought this Bournemouth game was a big game for Wirtz.
Because if he doesn’t produce, he’s then going to have a three‑week break. By the time we come back, we’re into October. He has to do something!" Carragher drew comparisons with other Premier League players who, despite lower profiles and modest wages, regularly influence games.
He cited Everton’s Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall, who, while far cheaper than Wirtz, scores a goal every few weeks. He also mentioned Morgan Gibbs‑White’s burst of impact for Nottingham Forest at Aston Villa and Emiliano Buendía’s occasional brilliance for Aston Villa against Tottenham.
"These players aren’t going to get over £100m, or £120m, but they’re still giving their clubs bits every few weeks," Carragher observed, underscoring that Wirtz’s output has not matched even mid‑table standards. The criticism extended to recent transfer and squad‑building choices. Carragher praised Iraola for showing courage in making bold decisions, such as signing Ryan Gravenberch on a lucrative five‑year contract despite the midfielder not featuring regularly. He also noted the constant reshuffling of full‑backs, with Jeremie Frimpong dropped immediately and Milos Kerkez rotating in and out, as evidence of Iraola’s willingness to experiment.
Yet, Carragher warned that a decisive call on Wirtz must come soon, not out of personal dislike but out of a desire to see Liverpool succeed. Interestingly, Carragher offered a glimmer of hope through former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, who currently oversees the German national side.
Klopp has called up Wirtz for Germany’s upcoming Nations League fixtures, giving the midfielder a three‑week international window before Liverpool’s next Premier League match. "The one hope for Liverpool supporters now is Jürgen Klopp is the Germany manager," Carragher said. "Witz goes away with the Germany team for three weeks, and he’s obviously one of the best players in Germany, that’s how they see him.
Can Jürgen sprinkle a bit of stardust on him?" He speculated that a strong showing for Germany – goals, assists, and confidence – could translate into a turnaround for Liverpool upon his return, especially with a crucial Manchester City game looming. "There’s a scenario where Klopp and Germany have a great international window, he gets loads of goals, assists and comes back on a high.
Manchester City’s the next game, he impacts that, all is forgotten, all is forgiven. There’s a potential turnaround there. I would love that to happen, I’d love him to be the match‑winner against Manchester City," Carragher concluded.
In summary, Carragher’s assessment paints a picture of a talented player who has yet to deliver the decisive performances that justified his price tag and the lofty expectations of Liverpool supporters. While he acknowledges Wirtz’s technical abilities, the former defender stresses that consistency, impact, and the ability to influence big games are still missing. With a packed schedule ahead – Premier League clashes against Brentford, Brighton, and Arsenal, Champions League ties with LASK and Villarreal, and a Carabao Cup showdown with Chelsea – Liverpool’s management will need to decide whether to persist with Wirtz or seek alternatives before the season’s decisive moments arrive.