Jamie Carragher speaks his mind on Florian Wirtz in damning verdict on Liverpool struggles

Jamie Carragher has delivered a damning verdict on Florian Wirtz and urged Andoni Iraola to leave the Liverpool star out against Manchester City. While the Reds secured a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon courtesy of Alexander Isak's strike, Carragher reckons Wirtz delivered his most underwhelming display in a Liverpool shirt at the Vitality Stadium.

Speaking on commentary, he said: "Wirtz has been really poor again. It's just nothing. Nothing is happening there at all."

And then, during a dedicated Sky Sports podcast following the match, the former Liverpool defender expanded on his assessment of the German: "That was one of the poorest I've ever seen him in a Liverpool shirt.

"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.

"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. 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. I commentated on Liverpool away at Burnley and 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 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. And it's not just Wirtz, it's the knock-on effect. So 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, I don't."

Wirtz will now join up with the Germany squad for the forthcoming Nations League fixtures, before the Reds resume their campaign against City on Sunday, October 11.

Carragher is absolutely certain that the attacking midfielder has no place in Liverpool's starting lineup when they face City at Anfield. He added: "I think going forward Iraola's got a decision to make here. Wirtz would not be in my Liverpool team.

"I thought this Bournemouth game was a big game for Wirtz. Because if he doesn't produce [against Bournemouth], he's then going to have a three-week break.

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"By the time we come back, we're into October. Before you know it, it'll be Christmas in six to eight weeks, or it'll feel like we're getting to Christmas. He has to do something! If you go through the Premier League and think of players in his position - not just for the top teams, forget the top teams who we should be judging him against, I'm talking about normal Premier League players in the middle of the table - who have done more for their clubs.

"I think of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall at Everton. No one out there would say Dewsbury-Hall is a better player than Wirtz, or would go for more money than Wirtz, or would cost £120m. But every three or four weeks he scores a goal. I watched Morgan Gibbs-White for Nottingham Forest last week at Aston Villa, and in the second half he put in a performance in 45 minutes that Florian Wirtz has never done before for Liverpool.

"I've seen a goal Emiliano Buendia scored for Aston Villa at Tottenham. Again, these players aren't going to get over £100m, or £120m, but they're still giving their clubs bits every few weeks. Wirtz wouldn't be in my Liverpool team. Manchester City at home, for me, he can't be in the team.

"The things I've liked so far about Iraola, he's had the courage to make big decisions. Ryan Gravenberch has just signed a hefty contract on a five-year deal on massive money, because they thought him and Szoboszlai were going to be the future of the midfield going forward. He's not playing.

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"Now, I can imagine the guys at the top of the club looking at that, thinking we've just given him a hefty contract. But no, he's not playing. The full-back situation, he keeps changing the full-backs, he's dropped Jeremie Frimpong straight away. Milos Kerkez has been in and out. So he's made decisions.

"But sooner or later he's going to have to make a decision on Florian Wirtz, and, for me, I hope it's sooner. Not because I don't like Florian Wirtz, I'm desperate for the kid to do well. I just want Liverpool to win. That's it, basically."