Carragher points to Wirtz's disappointing impact at Liverpool
At Anfield, three minutes after the start of the 0‑3 defeat to Manchester City, former defender Jamie Carragher expressed his displeasure with the performances of German midfielder Florian Wirtz, who since his arrival in the summer of 2025 for €125 million has not yet made a decisive contribution.
Big investment and expectations
German midfielder Florian Wirtz signed for Liverpool in the summer of 2025 for a massive fee of €125 million. He came from Bayer Leverkusen, where he had become Bundesliga champion. The high price and his championship pedigree raised big expectations at Anfield. At the same time, Alexander Isak arrived for €140 million, which further increased the pressure on the new signings.
According to Jamie Carragher, Liverpool paid too much for Wirtz. He pointed out that, without the injured Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak, Wirtz had to fill in to support Victor Muñoz and Lewis Koumas, but both performed better than Bradley Barcola and Wirtz. Barcola and Wirtz each cost more than €100 million, Carragher said. ‘That must not be the case,’ concluded the former defender.
Wirtz has so far made 57 appearances for Liverpool, in which he scored seven times and provided eleven assists. Despite nearly sixty games, his contribution remains insufficient according to Carragher. The former Liverpool player emphasized that the period for a player to adapt to the Premier League is over.
Team dynamics and other players
Carragher also mentioned Ryan Gravenberch, who after an hour on the pitch received two yellow cards and had to leave the field, changing the course of the match. He argued that Gravenberch, despite a modest start under Iraola, still showed moments of his former form. However, Carragher felt that Wirtz does not rank above Gravenberch and that he gives Liverpool too little.
Liverpool currently sits in ninth place in the Premier League. Next week awaits the Champions League encounter with LASK Linz, a match that adds extra pressure on the squad.