Jamie Carragher has openly criticized Florian Wirtz after what he described as the German midfielder's poorest display in a Liverpool shirt during the 1-0 victory over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. While serving as a co‑commentator for Sky Sports, Carragher did not hold back, stating that Wirtz "has been really poor again" and that "nothing is happening there at all" during the first half of the match.
After the final whistle, the former Liverpool defender went further, suggesting that Wirtz may never reach the lofty expectations that were placed on him when he arrived at Anfield. On the bonus "Jamie Carragher Podcast" produced by Sky Sports, he called the performance "one of the poorest I've ever seen him in a Liverpool shirt" and questioned whether the club had overpaid for a player who, in his view, was delivering only neat, tidy football without any real impact. Carragher explained that while Wirtz is technically proficient—he can retain possession, navigate tight spaces, and occasionally escape pressure—the overall contribution has been underwhelming.
"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," the pundit said, adding that he had harboured doubts about the midfielder's suitability for the Premier League as far back as a year ago. He recalled watching Liverpool's away win at Burnley, where a late Mo Salah penalty sealed the victory.
"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, suggesting that the transfer fee did not match the on‑field output. The former defender warned that the gap between expectations and reality is widening. Liverpool had hoped Wirtz would help the club chase another league title and a deep Champions League run, but Carragher believes the midfielder is far from delivering that level of performance.
"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," he said. Carragher also highlighted the tactical ripple effect of Wirtz's struggles.
When Wirtz occupies the number 10 role, it forces Dominik Szoboszlai to drop deeper into central midfield—a position Carragher feels Szoboszlai is not built for. This reshuffling, according to Carragher, undermines the team's balance and reduces overall effectiveness.
Looking ahead, Carragher warned that Wirtz should not be part of the Liverpool lineup when they face Manchester City on October 11 at Anfield. He argued that the Bournemouth match was a crucial test for the German midfielder; failing to impress there, he feared, would leave Wirtz with a three‑week break before the international window, followed by a congested schedule that could see the team approaching the Christmas period without any sign of improvement.
Statistically, Wirtz's first‑half passing accuracy of 63% was the lowest among all Liverpool players, with the next worst figure being 75% from Alexander Isak and Milos Kerkez. Carragher used this data point to compare Wirtz with more modestly priced Premier League players. He cited Everton's Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall, who, despite a far lower wage bill, scores regularly, and Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs‑White, whose 45‑minute burst against Aston Villa was, in Carragher's eyes, more impactful than anything Wirtz has shown for Liverpool. He also mentioned Emiliano Buendía, who scored for Aston Villa against Tottenham, underscoring that effective contributions can come from players far below the £100‑million price tag.
"Wirtz wouldn't be in my Liverpool team. Manchester City at home, for me, he can't be in the team," Carragher asserted. Carragher praised Andoni Iraola for his willingness to make bold decisions, such as signing Ryan Gravenberch to a lucrative five‑year deal despite the midfielder not featuring regularly. He also noted the frequent changes at full‑back, with Jeremie Frimpong being dropped and Milos Kerkez rotating in and out, illustrating Iraola's active management of the squad.
Nevertheless, Carragher urged Iraola to resolve the Wirtz dilemma sooner rather than later. "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," he said.
There is a glimmer of hope, however. Jurgen Klopp, now the manager of the German national team, has selected Wirtz for upcoming Nations League fixtures. Carragher speculated that Klopp might work some of his famed motivational magic on the midfielder during the international break. "The one hope for Liverpool supporters now is Jurgen Klopp is the Germany manager," he said.
"Can Jurgen Klopp sprinkle a bit of stardust on him in that position?" If Wirtz returns from the Germany camp revitalised—scoring goals, providing assists, and gaining confidence—Carragher believes he could still make a difference 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," Carragher concluded, adding that he would love to see Wirtz become the match‑winner in that crucial encounter.