While co‑commentating Liverpool’s 1‑0 victory over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, Carragher described Wirtz’s first‑half display as “really poor again”, adding that “nothing is happening there at all”.
On the bonus Jamie Carragher Podcast, the former defender called the performance “one of the poorest I’ve ever seen him in a Liverpool shirt”, questioning whether the midfielder will ever reach the level many expected him to achieve at Anfield and suggesting his transfer fee should be far lower.
Carragher argued that Wirtz’s limited impact forces manager Andoni Iraola to reshuffle the midfield, pushing Dominik Szoboszlai into a central role for which Carragher believes he is unsuited, and he warned that the knock‑on effect could undermine the team’s balance.
He noted Liverpool’s upcoming schedule – a Premier League clash with Manchester City on October 11, followed by games against Brentford, Brighton and a trip to Arsenal – and said the Bournemouth game was a “big game for Wirtz” because a poor showing could see him omitted from the City fixture.
Carragher also pointed to the three‑week international break, during which Wirtz will join Germany for Nations League matches, as a possible turning point, hoping that Jurgen Klopp’s role as Germany manager might “sprinkle a bit of stardust” on the player and boost his confidence before the City game.
In summary, Carragher urged Iraola to make a swift decision on Wirtz’s future role, emphasizing that Liverpool’s immediate priority is winning, and he expressed a wish to see the German midfielder become a match‑winner against Manchester City.