"He would not be in my Liverpool team" – Carragher slams Wirtz after "really poor" display

Germany star Florian Wirtz produced what Jamie Carragher described as one of his poorest performances in a Liverpool shirt during the club's 1-0 away win over Bournemouth on Sunday. 

Speaking after the game, the former Liverpool defender questioned whether the midfielder can live up to expectations following his move from Bayer Leverkusen for a fee of up to around €136 million, including potential bonuses, last summer.

“Wirtz has been really poor again. It's just nothing. Nothing is happening there at all,” Carragher said.

“That was one of the poorest I've ever seen him in a Liverpool shirt,” the Liverpool legend said on the Jamie Carragher Podcast made by Sky Sports.

“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. He gets out of a tight situation where you're normally expecting your player to lose the ball.”
 

“It's not what Liverpool thought they were getting”

Carragher added that he was already concerned about Wirtz's performances around 12 months ago, shortly after his big-money move from Bayer Leverkusen. Now, the former Liverpool man is increasingly convinced that what they are seeing may simply be the 23-year-old's level.

“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 said.

“And I was worried for Wirtz probably 12 months ago. And maybe that was a little bit early to say that, but I didn't say it. It was just in the back of my head.

"The worry for Wirtz now is that his performances so far, or what he's given Liverpool, is so low. Where we were expecting him was to take Liverpool to another league title, to take Liverpool to a Champions League.

“The gap he's got to get to almost justify what people were expecting, I almost think is too big. You can't get there. Even if he improves a bit and gets there, it's still not what Liverpool thought they were getting," continued Carragher.
 

“Wirtz wouldn't be in my Liverpool team”

The 48-year-old believes Wirtz shouldn't start against Manchester City after the international break – unless working with new Germany head coach and former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp helps the attacking midfielder rediscover his form.

“Wirtz would not be in my Liverpool team. Manchester City at home, for me, he can't be in the team,” said Carragher.

"The one hope for Liverpool supporters now is Jürgen Klopp is the Germany manager. Wirtz goes away with the Germany team for three weeks, and he's obviously one of the best players in Germany, that's how they see him. Can Jürgen Klopp sprinkle a bit of stardust on him in that position?

"Jürgen is one of the greatest managers in the world, we know that. And what he gets out of players is probably more than most managers because of the nature of his personality, and fingers crossed something can happen for him.

"There's a scenario there that Jurgen Klopp and Germany have a great international window, he gets loads of goals, assists and comes back on a high. Manchester City's the next game, he impacts that, all is forgotten, all is forgiven. There's a potential turnaround there.

“I would love that to happen, I'd love him to be the match-winner against Manchester City,” Carragher stated.

Wirtz has registered one assist in six appearances for Liverpool across all competitions so far this season.

Klopp named two squads comprising a total of 44 players for Germany's upcoming four matches. Wirtz was included in the second squad, which will face Serbia and Greece.