Carragher urges Iraola to drop Wirtz after labelling Bournemouth display worst in a Liverpool shirt

Jamie Carragher has delivered his harshest assessment yet of Florian Wirtz, describing the German’s display in Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Bournemouth on Sunday as one of the poorest he has witnessed from the midfielder in a Liverpool shirt, and calling on head coach Andoni Iraola to drop him for the visit of Manchester City.

Alexander Isak’s strike secured the three points at the Vitality Stadium, but Wirtz’s contribution drew sharp criticism from the former Liverpool defender, first during commentary and then at length in a post-match podcast. “Wirtz has been really poor again,” Carragher said on air. “It’s just nothing. Nothing is happening there at all.”

Expanding on that verdict, Carragher questioned whether the underwhelming displays reflect a temporary dip in form or something more fundamental. “I don’t think Wirtz is in poor form since he came to Liverpool,” he said. “I actually think what we’re seeing is what he is. He’s neat and tidy, he keeps possession, but I don’t see how he’s going to hurt you. The price tag for that type of player should be half of what Liverpool have paid.”

Carragher also raised concerns about the structural knock-on effect of playing Wirtz at number ten. “When he plays at No 10, it means Dominik Szoboszlai has to play central midfield. I don’t think Szoboszlai is a central-midfield player,” he said.

The pundit acknowledged the scale of expectation that accompanied Wirtz’s arrival, and argued the gap between those expectations and current reality may already be unbridgeable. “Where we were expecting him was to take Liverpool to another league title, to take Liverpool to a Champions League. Even if he improves a bit and gets there, it’s still not what Liverpool thought they were getting.”

On the selection question ahead of the City fixture, Carragher was unequivocal. “Wirtz would not be in my Liverpool team. Iraola’s got a decision to make here.”

Wirtz will spend the international break with the Germany squad for Nations League fixtures before Liverpool host City at Anfield on Sunday, 11 October.