Carragher calls for Wirtz to be dropped after 'nothing' display in Liverpool's win at Bournemouth

Jamie Carragher has called on Liverpool to drop Florian Wirtz after what he described as the worst performance he has seen from the German in a Liverpool shirt, following the club’s 1-0 victory at the Vitality Stadium against Bournemouth.

Wirtz, who joined Liverpool for £100m in the summer of 2025, has yet to score in six Premier League appearances this season and struggled again to make an impression under new manager Andoni Iraola. Carragher was blunt during his commentary of the match: “Wirtz has been really poor again. It’s just nothing. Nothing is happening there at all.”

The former Liverpool defender went further in his podcast, questioning whether the 22-year-old will ever justify his price tag. “That was one of the poorest I’ve ever seen him in a Liverpool shirt,” Carragher said. “I’ve been critical of the fact that he hasn’t got the numbers. But normally when you watch Wirtz, he’s neat and tidy, he keeps possession, there’s things that you like. 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 revealed his doubts about the player stretch back further than his Liverpool move. “I was worried for Wirtz probably 12 months ago,” he said. “I commentated on Liverpool away at Burnley — Liverpool won with a late penalty from Mo Salah — and 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.”

The pundit was equally stark about the gap between expectation and reality. “Where we were expecting him was to take Liverpool to another league title, to take Liverpool to a Champions League,” he said, adding that Wirtz would not feature in his Liverpool starting eleven.

“I think going forward Iraola’s got a decision to make here. Wirtz would not be in my Liverpool team,” Carragher stated.

Wirtz will miss Liverpool’s next fixtures due to the international break, returning to club action for a demanding run that includes league leaders Manchester City on 11 October, followed by Brentford, Brighton, and Arsenal.