Jamie Carragher has not minced words when it comes to Florian Wirtz’s recent showing in a Liverpool shirt, calling it the most disappointing performance he has witnessed from the German midfielder. Speaking on Sky Sports’ live commentary during Liverpool’s narrow 1-0 victory over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, Carragher said Wirtz was "really poor again" and that "nothing was happening" from the player.
The former Liverpool defender went on to suggest that Wirtz is unlikely to ever fulfil the lofty expectations that were placed on him when he arrived at Anfield, and he warned that the midfielder should not be selected for the crucial upcoming clash with Manchester City. In the post‑match segment of the Sky Sports broadcast, Carragher reiterated his criticism on the bonus Jamie Carragher Podcast, describing the Bournemouth display as "one of the poorest I have ever seen him produce while wearing a Liverpool shirt." He acknowledged that Wirtz is technically sound – he can keep possession, make tidy passes and occasionally escape tight situations – but argued that the player’s overall impact has been negligible. "I’ve been critical of his lack of numbers," Carragher said, "but normally when you watch Wirtz you see a player who is neat and tidy, who keeps the ball and does the things you like to see.
Yet what we’re seeing now is a player who simply isn’t influencing the game." Carragher admitted that his doubts about Wirtz began roughly a year ago, but he had kept those concerns to himself until now. He recalled a previous Liverpool away fixture at Burnley, where a late Mo Salah penalty secured the win. "When I watched that game, it summed up what I’ve seen over the past twelve months – Wirtz doesn’t hurt you, he’s just neat and tidy. For a player with his price tag, you would expect far more.
The market value for someone of his profile should be half of what Liverpool have paid," he argued. The former defender emphasized that Liverpool signed Wirtz with the intention of adding a creative spark that could drive the club to another Premier League title and a deep Champions League run. "The gap between what we expected and what he has delivered is massive.
Even if he improves a little, he will still fall short of what the fans and the board imagined when they spent a six‑figure sum on him," Carragher warned. He also highlighted the knock‑on effect of Wirtz’s underperformance on the rest of the squad.
Because Wirtz has been deployed in the No. 10 role, Liverpool have been forced to push Dominik Szoboszlai into a central‑midfield position – a spot that, according to Carragher, does not suit Szoboszlai’s natural skill set. Looking ahead, Carragher believes that manager Andoni Iraola faces a difficult decision regarding Wirtz’s future.
"I think going forward Iraola has a decision to make. Wirtz would not be in my Liverpool team," he said, referring to the upcoming Premier League encounter with Manchester City on October 11. He stressed that the Bournemouth game was a pivotal moment for the German midfielder. "If he can’t produce against Bournemouth, then he has three weeks off before we return in October, and before you know it we’re heading towards Christmas.
He needs to do something, and fast." Statistically, Wirtz’s performance was sub‑par. His passing accuracy in the first half was a mere 63%, the lowest figure among all Liverpool players on the pitch. The next worst accuracy belonged to Alexander Isak and Milos Kerkez, both at 75%. Carragher used this data point to argue that even average Premier League midfielders from mid‑table clubs outperform Wirtz.
He cited Everton’s Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall, who, despite a modest wage, contributes a goal every three to four weeks, and Morgan Gibbs‑White of Nottingham Forest, who delivered a decisive 45‑minute spell against Aston Villa – something Carragher says Wirtz has yet to achieve at Liverpool. He also mentioned Emiliano Buendía’s occasional heroics for Aston Villa as further evidence that players costing far less than Wirtz can still make meaningful contributions.
Carragher praised Iraola for his willingness to make bold choices, such as signing Ryan Gravenberch to a lucrative five‑year deal, only to see the player languish on the bench. He also noted the frequent changes to the full‑back positions, including the swift dropping of Jeremie Frimpong and the inconsistent use of Milos Kerkez. However, he warned that a decisive call regarding Wirtz must come soon.
"I hope it’s sooner rather than later. It’s not that I don’t like Florian Wirtz – I want the kid to succeed. I just want Liverpool to win," he concluded. There is a potential silver lining, however.
Jurgen Klopp, who now manages the German national side, has selected Wirtz for Germany’s upcoming Nations League fixtures. Carragher speculated that a strong showing for Germany could reignite the midfielder’s confidence.
"The one hope for Liverpool supporters now is that Jurgen Klopp, as Germany manager, can sprinkle a bit of his magic on Wirtz. If he returns from the international break brimming with goals and assists, the Manchester City game could be a different story," Carragher said.
He imagined a scenario where Wirtz returns rejuvenated, influences the match against City, and quickly erases the doubts that have plagued him. In summary, Carragher’s verdict is stark: Wirtz’s current output is far below what Liverpool paid for him, and unless he dramatically improves – either through personal development or a boost from his national team duties – he should not be part of the lineup against Manchester City. The onus now lies with Andoni Iraola to make a clear decision about the German midfielder’s role, and with Wirtz himself to prove that he can still justify the massive investment Liverpool made in his talent.