Florian Wirtz (foto: Getty Images)
Jamie Carragher has questioned Florian Wirtz's place at Liverpool and warned the club's €480m spending spree could become a historic transfer failure.
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Former Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher has raised major doubts over Florian Wirtz following the club's unconvincing start to the new season, questioning whether the Germany international has a natural position in Andoni Iraola's system.
Liverpool drew 2-2 with Newcastle, with Wirtz substituted after around an hour.
The German arrived at Anfield last summer for €125 million, but his first season failed to meet the enormous expectations surrounding the transfer. He scored seven goals and provided 10 assists, but Carragher believes Liverpool still have not worked out how to get the best out of him.
"I don't see where he fits in this team"
"What do you actually do with Wirtz?" Carragher asked during his appearance on Sky Sports.
The former Liverpool defender also dismissed the argument that Wirtz simply needed a full season to adjust to English football.
"I reject this story that players need a year to adapt to the Premier League as a myth. When I hear that he has to play as a number 10, that means Szoboszlai has to play in central midfield, and he's not that type of midfielder."
Carragher admitted he expected the issue to emerge later in the season, but believes Liverpool already need to address it.
"I thought we'd be talking about this in six weeks, but it's relevant already. I just don't see where he fits into this team. I look at it and wonder what Iraola is going to do. This can't continue. It doesn't work, and it didn't work last season either."
"He's not a €125 million player"
Carragher does not believe Wirtz is simply performing significantly below his true level.
In fact, that is part of his concern.
"I always thought he could play a little more from the left, in that inside space, like he does for Germany. But Iraola wants wingers and energy. I don't think Wirtz is playing significantly below his ability."
Carragher then delivered an even more uncomfortable assessment of Liverpool's record investment.
"I think what we've been watching for a year is simply what he is. He's a tidy, decent footballer with a nice touch, but he's not a €125 million player. He's probably a €60 million or €70 million player."
His concerns extend beyond Wirtz.
Carragher believes the midfield combination of Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz does not provide Liverpool with enough balance.
"All three of them think about attacking. That's exactly why it can't work."
Could Liverpool's €480m spending spree become a historic failure?
Carragher then broadened his criticism to Liverpool's extraordinary transfer window last summer.
The Reds spent approximately €480 million on new players, with Wirtz only one of several expensive additions.
Liverpool also signed Alexander Isak for €145m and Hugo Ekitike for €90m, while Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Giorgi Mamardashvili and Giovanni Leoni were among the other arrivals.
The spending was designed to strengthen a team that had won the Premier League under Arne Slot.
Instead, Liverpool finished only fifth, and Slot subsequently lost his job.
Carragher now fears the consequences of that transfer window could extend well beyond one disappointing season.
"I'm worried that transfer window could have set Liverpool back a year or two. If things don't change over the next two or three months, we could look back at it as maybe the worst transfer window in Premier League history," Carragher warned.
The former England international consequently does not regard Liverpool as one of the leading contenders for this season's title.
"I don't think Liverpool will challenge for the title this year. Liverpool are in transition."
For Wirtz, the criticism goes beyond the normal debate surrounding a player struggling to justify an enormous transfer fee. Carragher's central concern is more fundamental: after an entire season, he remains unconvinced that Liverpool have a system capable of accommodating their €125m signing.