Jamie Carragher has not been shy about his disappointment with Florian Wirtz’s recent showing for Liverpool. In his role as a co‑commentator on Sky Sports during Liverpool’s 1‑0 victory over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, Carragher described the German midfielder’s performance as "one of the poorest I’ve ever seen him produce while wearing a Liverpool shirt." He went on to argue that Wirtz should not be selected for the upcoming clash with Manchester City.
During the first half of the Bournemouth match, Carragher observed that Wirtz seemed completely invisible on the pitch. "He was just not there," the former Liverpool defender said. "There was no spark, no creativity, nothing that moved the ball forward in any meaningful way." The criticism was not limited to a single moment; Carragher maintained that the entire half was marked by a lack of influence from the 22‑year‑old. After the final whistle, Carragher took his analysis a step further on the Sky Sports‑produced Jamie Carragher Podcast.
He argued that the expectations placed on Wirtz when he arrived at Anfield have not been met, and that the player’s current output is far below what Liverpool paid for him. "When you watch Wirtz you expect neat, tidy possession work and the ability to escape tight spots," Carragher explained. "What we saw was the opposite – a player who could not keep the ball, could not dictate tempo, and essentially did not contribute to the team’s attacking rhythm." Carragher admitted that his concerns about Wirtz date back roughly a year, although he said he never voiced them publicly at the time.
"I had a feeling something was off about him twelve months ago, but I kept it to myself," he recalled. He cited a previous Liverpool away match at Burnley, where a late Mo Salah penalty secured a win, as an example of the type of performance he has come to expect from the team – a stark contrast to the flat display against Bournemouth. In Carragher’s view, the price Liverpool paid for Wirtz should have bought a player capable of pushing the club toward another Premier League title and deeper runs in the Champions League.
Instead, he believes the German’s contributions have been minimal. "The gap between what we hoped for and what we’re actually getting is huge," Carragher said. "Even if he improves a little, he will still fall short of the expectations that justified his transfer fee." The criticism also extended to the tactical ripple effects of Wirtz’s underperformance.
When Wirtz is deployed as a number ten, Liverpool are forced to reshuffle other midfielders, notably Dominik Szoboszlai, into a central role that does not suit his natural position. "Szoboszlai is not a traditional central‑midfield player," Carragher argued, "and moving him there only weakens the team’s overall balance." Looking ahead, Carragher warned that Liverpool’s schedule is about to become even more demanding. After the three‑week international break, the Reds face Manchester City at Anfield on October 11, followed by a series of tough Premier League fixtures against Brentford, Brighton, and a trip to Arsenal. In addition, they have Champions League ties with LASK and Villarreal, plus a Carabao Cup fourth‑round clash with Chelsea.
"Wirtz simply cannot be in my Liverpool side against City," Carragher insisted. "If he can’t deliver against Bournemouth, he has a three‑week window to prove himself before we head into October, and then the calendar only gets tighter." Statistically, Wirtz’s performance was underwhelming. His passing accuracy in the first half was a mere 63%, the lowest of any Liverpool player on the field.
The next worst figure belonged to Alexander Isak and Milos Kerkez, both at 75%. Carragher used these numbers to illustrate that even average Premier League midfielders from mid‑table clubs are more reliable. He cited Everton’s Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall, who, while not commanding a £120 million price tag, consistently scores and contributes every few weeks.
Similar examples included Morgan Gibbs‑White’s impactful half‑hour spell for Nottingham Forest and Emiliano Buendía’s occasional goal for Aston Villa – players who, despite modest wages, regularly influence matches. Carragher also praised Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola for his willingness to make bold decisions, such as signing Ryan Gravenberch to a lucrative five‑year deal and frequently rotating full‑backs, including dropping Jeremie Frimpong and shuffling Milos Kerkez.
However, he stressed that Iraola must eventually decide whether Wirtz remains part of the squad. "I hope the decision comes quickly," Carragher said. "It’s not that I dislike Wirtz; I simply want Liverpool to win, and right now he isn’t helping us achieve that." There is, however, a glimmer of hope in the form of former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp, who is currently managing the German national team. Klopp has selected Wirtz for Germany’s upcoming Nations League fixtures, giving the midfielder a three‑week break from club duties.
Carragher speculated that a successful international spell could revive Wirtz’s confidence. "Klopp is one of the best managers in the world," he noted.
"If he can sprinkle a bit of his magic on Wirtz during the international window, perhaps the player will return refreshed, score goals, provide assists, and make a decisive impact against Manchester City." In summary, Carragher’s assessment paints a bleak picture of Wirtz’s current form at Liverpool, emphasizing the mismatch between his transfer fee and his on‑field contributions, the tactical disruptions caused by his placement, and the urgent need for a decisive managerial choice before the club’s schedule intensifies. While a strong showing for Germany under Klopp could offer a turnaround, the immediate priority for Liverpool, according to Carragher, is to field a side capable of competing with the likes of Manchester City – and that side, in his opinion, does not include Florian Wirtz at this time.