Jamie Carragher has once again taken a swipe at Florian Wirtz following Liverpool's 3-0 loss to Manchester City. The former Reds defender believes the German is not contributing enough for a player with a €125 million price tag.
Wirtz's adaptation has been challenging since his move from Bayer Leverkusen, with the midfielder yet to score this season and managing just one assist across all competitions in seven matches.
After the match, Daniel Sturridge suggested that Wirtz's struggles might stem from his role in Andoni Iraola's system. However, Carragher disagreed, stating:
We've seen his goals and assists for Bayer, but he looks physically too light on the pitch. Even from set pieces, it sometimes seems like he lacks the strength to deliver deeper balls.
Carragher acknowledged that Wirtz played in different conditions in Germany, often receiving the ball in a more advanced position on the left flank.
I understand the role he had at Bayer. They used three centre-backs, with a wing-back wide, and Wirtz operating more on the left. But even as a number ten, he should still be able to find those spaces.
In Carragher's view, the issue cannot solely be attributed to tactics.
You can't just absolve him of all responsibility because he's asked to play ten yards closer to the centre. He should still be getting into those areas and delivering much more.
Carragher also proposed a potential shift to place Wirtz on the left flank.
I think the next step might be to move him to the left. He plays there for the German national team. Perhaps that could be a last resort: give him some space on the flank with an overlapping full-back.
However, he noted that Iraola prefers traditional wingers, which could make this adjustment difficult within his system.
Furthermore, the former Liverpool player reminisced about Xabi Alonso.
This summer, I thought: what if Xabi Alonso were the manager? Nobody knows Wirtz better than him. He could unlock a player for whom the club has paid a huge sum.
Wirtz's contract with Liverpool runs until 2030, and the club is not currently looking to make hasty decisions. However, Bayern Munich and other top European clubs are keeping an eye on the situation. If Wirtz fails to progress, discussions about his future next summer could become much more pressing.
