Jamie Carragher has openly criticised Florian Wirtz, describing his display in Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Bournemouth as one of the worst he has ever witnessed while wearing the red shirt. Speaking from the Sky Sports commentary box, Carragher did not mince words: "Wirtz has been really poor again. It's just nothing.
Nothing is happening there at all." The former Liverpool defender went on to argue that the German midfielder is unlikely to ever fulfil the lofty expectations that were placed on him when he arrived at Anfield. During the post‑match segment of the Sky Sports podcast, Carragher reiterated his concerns, stating, "That was one of the poorest I've ever seen him in a Liverpool shirt." He admitted that his criticism stems not only from the lack of tangible statistics but also from the overall feel of Wirtz's game. "Usually when you watch Wirtz, he's neat and tidy, he keeps possession, there are things you like. He gets out of tight situations where you'd normally expect a player to lose the ball," Carragher explained.
"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 confessed that doubts about Wirtz had been lingering in his mind for about a year, even if he never voiced them publicly. He recalled commentating on 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," he said.
The former defender argued that the expectations placed on Wirtz were unrealistic. Liverpool signed him with the hope that he would help the club capture another Premier League title and make a deep run in the Champions League.
"The gap he has to close to almost justify what people were expecting is huge. Even if he improves a little, it still won't be what Liverpool thought they were getting," Carragher warned. He also highlighted the ripple effect on the rest of the squad, noting that Wirtz's deployment at the No.10 role forces Dominik Szoboszlai to operate in central midfield – a position that, in Carragher's view, does not suit the Hungarian's skill set.
Looking ahead, Carragher believes Wirtz should not be part of the lineup when Liverpool host Manchester City on October 11. "I think going forward Iraola's got a decision to make here.
Wirtz would not be in my Liverpool team," he said. He added that the Bournemouth game was a crucial test 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!" Statistically, Wirtz's first‑half passing accuracy of 63% was the lowest among all Liverpool players on the day, with the next worst figure belonging to Alexander Isak and Milos Kerkez at 75%.
Carragher used this data point to compare Wirtz with more modest Premier League players. He mentioned Everton's Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall, noting that while no one would argue Dewsbury‑Hall is a superior talent, he consistently contributes a goal every few weeks for a club that pays far less.
He also referenced Morgan Gibbs‑White's impact for Nottingham Forest and Emiliano Buendía's occasional brilliance for Aston Villa, both of whom command far lower wages than Wirtz's reported fee. Carragher praised Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola for his willingness to make bold decisions, such as signing Ryan Gravenberch to a lucrative five‑year deal despite the midfielder not yet featuring regularly.
He also pointed out the frequent changes in the full‑back department, with Jeremie Frimpong dropped early and Milos Kerkez rotating in and out. However, Carragher stressed that a decisive call on Wirtz must come soon.
"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 optimism, though. Jurgen Klopp, now Germany's manager, has selected Wirtz for the national team's upcoming Nations League fixtures. Carragher suggested that a strong showing for Germany could rejuvenate the midfielder's confidence.
"The one hope for Liverpool supporters now is Jurgen Klopp is the Germany manager," he remarked. "Wirtz 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?" Carragher imagined a scenario where Wirtz returns from international duty brimming with goals and assists, ready to influence the crucial match against Manchester City.
"If that happens, 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 assessment is clear: Florian Wirtz has, so far, failed to justify his hefty transfer fee and the lofty expectations that accompanied his arrival at Liverpool. Unless he dramatically improves – perhaps with a confidence boost from his performances for Germany – the former Liverpool stalwart doubts that the German will be ready to face a side of Manchester City’s calibre.
The onus now lies with manager Andoni Iraola to decide whether to persist with Wirtz or to make a decisive change for the sake of the club's ambitions.