Jamie Carragher has not been shy about his disappointment with Florian Wirtz after the German midfielder’s underwhelming showing in Liverpool’s 1-0 victory at Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium. Speaking from the Sky Sports commentary box, Carragher described the performance as "really poor again" and suggested that the player’s display was among the weakest he has ever witnessed while wearing the famous red shirt. During the first half, Carragher noted that Wirtz’s passing accuracy hovered at a meager 63%, the lowest figure among all Liverpool players on the pitch.
By contrast, the next‑worst passing percentage was 75%, recorded by both Alexander Isak and Milos Kerkez. The pundit argued that even a mid‑table Premier League midfielder would likely produce more consistent numbers than the German international.
After the final whistle, Carragher continued his critique on the bonus "Jamie Carragher Podcast" produced by Sky Sports. He claimed that Wirtz has yet to live up to the lofty expectations that accompanied his £120 million transfer fee. "I’ve been critical of the fact that he hasn’t got the numbers," Carragher said, "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’re normally expecting your player to lose the ball." However, the former Liverpool defender warned that what fans are seeing now may not be a temporary dip in form but rather a genuine reflection of the player’s ceiling.
"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 explained. Carragher admitted that he had harboured concerns about the midfielder as far back as a year ago, but he had kept those doubts to himself until now. He recalled watching Liverpool’s previous 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," Carragher argued, emphasizing the disparity between the investment and the return. The former defender warned that Liverpool’s ambitions – a potential league title and a deep Champions League run – may be out of reach if Wirtz cannot bridge the gap between expectation and reality.
"The gap he’s got to get to almost justify what people were expecting, I almost think is too big. You can’t get there. Even if he improves a bit and gets there, it’s still not what Liverpool thought they were getting," Carragher said. Carragher also highlighted the tactical ripple effect of keeping Wirtz in a No 10 role.
It forces Dominik Szoboszlai to operate in central midfield, a position that, in Carragher’s view, does not suit the Hungarian’s skill set. "I don’t think Szoboszlai is a central‑midfield player," he added, underscoring the broader squad‑selection dilemmas facing manager Andoni Iraola. Looking ahead, Liverpool face a packed schedule after the three‑week international break.
Their first test will be a high‑stakes Premier League clash against Manchester City at Anfield on October 11, broadcast live on Sky Sports. The fixture is part of a demanding run that also includes matches against Brentford, Brighton, and a home game versus Arsenal at the Emirates on October 1. In addition, Liverpool have Champions League ties with LASK and Villarreal, plus a Carabao Cup fourth‑round showdown with Chelsea.
Carragher believes that Wirtz should be omitted from the squad for the City game. "I think going forward Iraola’s got a decision to make here. Wirtz would not be in my Liverpool team," he said. He argued that the Bournemouth match was a crucial audition for the German midfielder.
"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 be Christmas in six to eight weeks, or it’ll feel like we’re getting to Christmas. He has to do something!" Carragher compared Wirtz’s output unfavourably with several Premier League players who command far smaller wages.
He cited Everton’s Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall, noting that while Dewsbury‑Hall is not a household name, he consistently contributes goals every few weeks for a club operating on a modest budget. He also mentioned Morgan Gibbs‑White’s 45‑minute burst of influence for Nottingham Forest against Aston Villa, and Emiliano Buendía’s occasional goal‑scoring for Aston Villa at Tottenham, both of which, according to Carragher, demonstrate a level of impact that Wirtz has yet to match. The pundit did not shy away from criticizing Iraola’s recent transfer policy either. He pointed out that Ryan Gravenberch, who recently signed a lucrative five‑year contract, has yet to feature regularly, raising questions about the club’s allocation of resources.
"Now I can imagine the guys at the top of the club looking at that, thinking we’ve just given him a hefty contract. But no, he’s not playing," Carragher observed, adding that the full‑back rotation – including the abrupt dropping of Jeremie Frimpong and the inconsistent use of Milos Kerkez – further illustrates Iraola’s ongoing search for stability. Despite his harsh assessment, Carragher offered a sliver of hope: the possibility that former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, now in charge of the German national team, could work some of his famed motivational magic on Wirtz during the international break. Klopp has called up the midfielder for Germany’s Nations League fixtures against Serbia and Greece, providing him with a three‑week window away from club duties.
"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 Klopp sprinkle a bit of stardust on him in that position?" Carragher speculated that a strong showing for Germany – goals, assists, and confidence‑boosting performances – could translate into a revitalised display against Manchester City, potentially erasing the doubts that have been building around the player. "There’s a scenario there that Jürgen 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," he concluded. In summary, Carragher’s verdict is clear: Florian Wirtz’s current contributions fall far short of the expectations that accompanied his record‑breaking transfer. Unless he can dramatically improve his output – either through personal development or a confidence boost from his national‑team duties – the former Liverpool stalwart believes he should be left out of the squad for the crucial Manchester City encounter. The next few weeks will be decisive for both the player’s future at Anfield and the club’s aspirations in a season that promises intense competition on every front.