Jamie Carragher has not been shy about his disappointment with Florian Wirtz’s showing in Liverpool’s recent away fixture at Bournemouth. Speaking on Sky Sports’ live commentary, the former Liverpool defender described the German midfielder’s performance as “one of the poorest I’ve ever seen him produce in a Liverpool shirt.” Carragher went on to argue that Wirtz should not be selected for the upcoming clash against Manchester City, suggesting that the player’s current level does not match the expectations that were placed on him when he arrived at Anfield.
During the first half of Liverpool’s 1‑0 victory at the Vitality Stadium, Carragher repeatedly pointed out the lack of impact Wirtz had on the game. “He’s been really poor again,” he said, adding that “nothing is happening there at all.” The former defender noted that Wirtz’s passing accuracy in that half was a meagre 63 percent – the lowest figure among all Liverpool players on the pitch. By contrast, the next‑worst passing numbers were around 75 percent, recorded by Alexander Isak and Milos Kerkez.
Those statistics, Carragher argued, underline how far the German play‑maker is from the standard required in the Premier League. After the final whistle, Carragher continued his criticism on the Sky Sports “Jamie Carragher Podcast.” He claimed that Wirtz will never reach the lofty heights many fans and pundits imagined for him at Anfield. “I’ve been critical of the fact that he hasn’t got the numbers,” Carragher said. “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. 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 admitted that his doubts about Wirtz began roughly a year ago, but he kept those concerns to himself until now. He recalled a previous match – Liverpool’s away win at Burnley – where he observed the same lack of dynamism that he sees today. “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,” he said. The former defender emphasised that the expectations placed on Wirtz were enormous. Liverpool signed the 22‑year‑old for a reported fee north of £120 million, hoping he would help the club secure another league title and a deep run in the Champions League.
“The gap he’s got to close to almost justify what people were expecting is huge,” Carragher warned. “Even if he improves a bit, it’s still not what Liverpool thought they were getting.” Carragher also highlighted the tactical ripple effect of keeping Wirtz in the No 10 role. By occupying the advanced midfield position, the team forces Dominik Szoboszlai to drop deeper into central midfield – a role that, in Carragher’s view, does not suit the Hungarian’s skill set.
“I don’t think Szoboszlai is a central‑midfield player,” he asserted, suggesting that the current arrangement is compromising the overall balance of the side. Looking ahead, Carragher believes that manager Andoni Iraola faces a crucial decision before Liverpool’s next Premier League test against Manchester City on 11 October.
“I think going forward Iraola’s got a decision to make here. Wirtz would not be in my Liverpool team,” he said. He warned that the Bournemouth game was a “big game for Wirtz” – a chance to prove his worth before the three‑week international break. “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. He has to do something!” To put Wirtz’s performances into perspective, Carragher compared him with several Premier League players who command far lower wages but contribute more consistently.
He cited Everton’s Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall, who, while far less expensive, scores a goal every three or four games. He also mentioned Morgan Gibbs‑White of Nottingham Forest, whose 45‑minute second‑half display at Aston Villa, according to Carragher, eclipsed anything Wirtz has managed for Liverpool. Even Emiliano Buendía, who has never commanded a six‑figure transfer fee, was praised for his regular goal contributions.
Carragher’s frustration is not only with Wirtz but also with some of Iraola’s broader squad choices. He noted that the club recently handed a lucrative five‑year contract to Ryan Gravenberch, expecting him and Szoboszlai to become the midfield’s future, yet Gravenberch has yet to feature.
The manager’s handling of the full‑back positions also drew criticism, with Jeremie Frimpong dropped abruptly and Milos Kerkez shuffled in and out of the lineup. Despite his harsh words, Carragher expressed a glimmer of hope that former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp could intervene during the international break.
Klopp, who is also Germany’s manager, has selected Wirtz for the national team’s Nations League fixtures against Serbia and Greece. Carragher mused that a successful spell with Germany could rejuvenate the midfielder’s confidence.
“Can Jürgen Klopp sprinkle a bit of stardust on him?” he asked. “If he comes back with goals and assists, the Manchester City game could be forgotten, and all is forgiven. I would love that to happen, I’d love him to be the match‑winner against Manchester City.” In summary, Jamie Carragher’s verdict is clear: Florian Wirtz’s current output is far below the standards Liverpool demanded when they splurged on his transfer.
With a crucial match against Manchester City looming, the onus is on Andoni Iraola to decide whether to persist with a player who, in Carragher’s view, has yet to justify his price tag, or to make a decisive change that could restore balance to the team’s midfield.