Carragher urges Iraola to bench Wirtz as Liverpool flounder

Jamie Carragher has warned Liverpool supporters that they should not expect much more from Florian Wirtz, the German midfielder who arrived at Anfield last summer for a £116.5million fee after impressing at Bayer Leverkusen. His debut season yielded just five goals and three assists, leaving fans and the coaching staff frustrated.

Carragher's blunt assessment

After Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Bournemouth, Carragher labelled Wirtz's display "really poor again", adding that "nothing is happening there at all". He went on to say it was "one of the poorest I’ve ever seen him in a Liverpool shirt". The Bournemouth match photo was supplied by Getty.

European football pundit Kevin Hatchard defended the 23‑year‑old on X, reminding followers that Wirtz was outstanding for Bayer Leverkusen and already holds 45 caps for the German national team. Hatchard argued that judging the midfielder by his Premier League numbers alone misrepresents his quality. Carragher replied, noting the stark contrast between Bundesliga performances and the Premier League expectations.

Liverpool's options ahead of Manchester City

Liverpool’s unbeaten start to the Premier League will be tested when they host Manchester City after the international break. Carragher insists Wirtz should not feature in the line‑up against the defending champions, stating "Wirtz wouldn’t be in my Liverpool team". The manager, Andoni Iraola, has yet to confirm his selection.

Liverpool fears losing its defensive star before Manchester City clash

Iraola has already made bold personnel moves, signing Ryan Gravenberch on a five‑year contract and dropping Jeremie Frimpong early in the season. He has also rotated full‑backs, with Milos Kerkez in and out of the side. Carragher warned that a decision on Wirtz must come soon, otherwise the midfielder’s lack of impact will continue to hinder the Reds.

Former striker Troy Deeney, speaking on Gameday Live, said it was his first time seeing Wirtz live and felt the German "doesn’t look like he belongs in this league". Deeney added that the midfielder’s hesitation slows the tempo, preventing Bradley Barcola and Cody Gakpo from receiving quick service and allowing opponents to regroup. He echoed Iraola’s frustration after the Bournemouth game.

Liverpool chase Premier League star Tzolakis as £40m bid looms

Since joining Liverpool, Wirtz has recorded just nine Premier League goal involvements, a stark contrast to the five goals and three assists he managed in his debut season. The disparity highlights the gap between his Bayer Leverkusen form and his current output in the Premier League. As the season progresses, both Carragher and Iraola face pressure to find a solution.