Jamie Carragher didn’t mince words after Liverpool’s 1‑0 victory at Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium, describing Florian Wirtz’s performance as "one of the poorest I’ve ever seen him in a Liverpool shirt." The former Liverpool defender, who was providing co‑commentary for Sky Sports, argued that the German midfielder’s display was so lackluster that he should not be selected for the upcoming clash with Manchester City. Carragher’s criticism extended beyond a single game; he questioned whether Wirtz could ever reach the lofty expectations that were placed on him when Liverpool paid a hefty transfer fee for his services. During the first half of the Bournemouth match, Wirtz’s passing accuracy registered at a meagre 63 per cent – the lowest figure among all Liverpool players on the pitch.
By contrast, the next‑worst passing rate belonged to Alexander Isak and Milos Kerkez, who each managed 75 per cent. Carragher used those statistics to underline his point that, even against a mid‑table side, Wirtz struggled to keep the ball and dictate play.
"Wirtz has been really poor again," Carragher said on air. "It’s just nothing. Nothing is happening there at all." He went on to explain that, while the midfielder is capable of tidy possession work and can occasionally escape tight situations, those moments have been far too rare to justify the £120 million price tag Liverpool shelled out. "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. 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," Carragher told listeners on the Jamie Carragher Podcast, a Sky Sports production. He added that his concerns had been simmering for about a year.
"I was worried for Wirtz probably 12 months ago. And maybe that was a little bit early to say that, but I didn’t say it.
It was just in the back of my head," the pundit recalled. Carragher cited a previous away game at Burnley, where Liverpool won thanks to a late Mo Salah penalty, as an example of the kind of performance he has come to expect from a player of Wirtz’s stature – a performance that, in his view, has not materialised.
The former defender argued that the gap between Wirtz’s current contributions and the expectations of the Liverpool board is simply too wide. "The worry for Wirtz now is that his performances so far, or what he’s given Liverpool, is so low. Where we were expecting him was to take Liverpool to another league title, to take Liverpool to a Champions League. The gap he’s got to close 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 warned.
Carragher also highlighted the knock‑on effect of keeping Wirtz in the No 10 role. By occupying the central attacking position, the manager forces Dominik Szoboszlai to drift into central midfield – a position the Hungarian is not naturally suited for. "I don’t think Szoboszlai is a central‑midfield player, I don’t," Carragher asserted, suggesting that the tactical reshuffle is harming the overall balance of the side. Looking ahead, Carragher believes that manager Andoni Iraola will soon be forced to make a decisive call.
"I think going forward Iraola’s got a decision to make here. Wirtz would not be in my Liverpool team," he said, emphasizing that the Bournemouth game was a litmus test. "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!" To put Wirtz’s numbers in perspective, Carragher compared him with several Premier League players who command far smaller wages but still manage to contribute regularly. He mentioned Everton’s Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall, noting that while no one would argue Dewsbury‑Hall is a better player than Wirtz, the Everton midfielder scores a goal every three or four weeks and does so on a modest contract. He also cited Morgan Gibbs‑White’s 45‑minute burst of influence for Nottingham Forest at Aston Villa and Emiliano Buendía’s occasional goal for Aston Villa against Tottenham, both of whom earn far less than £100 million. Carragher’s verdict was unequivocal: "Wirtz wouldn’t be in my Liverpool team.
Manchester City at home, for me, he can’t be in the team." He praised Iraola for making bold decisions – such as signing Ryan Gravenberch on a lucrative five‑year deal and rotating full‑backs like Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez – but warned that a timely decision regarding Wirtz is essential. "I hope it’s sooner. Not because I don’t like Florian Wirtz, I’m desperate for the kid to do well.
I just want Liverpool to win. That’s it, basically," Carragher concluded.
Amid the criticism, Carragher offered a glimmer of hope: Jurgen Klopp, now Germany’s manager, has selected Wirtz for the upcoming Nations League fixtures. The German midfielder will spend three weeks with the national team, featuring against Serbia and Greece. Carragher speculated that a successful international spell could rejuvenate Wirtz’s confidence.
"The one hope for Liverpool supporters now is Jurgen Klopp is the Germany manager. 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 Jurgen Klopp sprinkle a bit of stardust on him in that position?" he asked.
He imagined a scenario where Wirtz returns from the international break brimming with goals and assists, ready to make an impact against Manchester City. "There’s a scenario there that Jurgen 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 said.
In summary, Carragher’s analysis paints a stark picture: a high‑priced midfielder struggling to adapt, a tactical conundrum for Iraola, and a looming fixture against a title‑contending Manchester City that could expose Liverpool’s midfield frailties. Whether the German international can rediscover the form that justified his transfer fee remains to be seen, but the former Liverpool stalwart is clear – the Reds need decisive action, either from the manager or from a revitalised Wirtz, if they hope to compete on multiple fronts this season.