Carragher urges Liverpool to drop Wirtz after Manchester City defeat
Liverpool’s 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City at Anfield has intensified concern over Florian Wirtz, with Jamie Carragher arguing that the German international should no longer be selected ahead of Ryan Gravenberch.
Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool side were beaten by an Enzo Maresca-led City team after Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki scored. The contest swung further against the hosts shortly after the hour, when Gravenberch was sent off.
Liverpool were already without Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo, described as their leading attacking players this season, leaving Bradley Barcola, Victor Munoz and Lewis Koumas among those asked to carry more responsibility in the final third. Carragher felt Koumas and Munoz offered more than Liverpool’s expensive senior attackers on the day.
Carragher questions Wirtz’s place
Speaking after the match, Carragher returned to criticism he had made following Liverpool’s previous game at Bournemouth. He said some supporters had objected to his assessment, but maintained that Wirtz’s club performances remain well below the standard required.
Carragher pointed to Wirtz’s form with Germany under Jurgen Klopp, where he believed the midfielder had performed strongly, but said that level has not carried into his Liverpool career. He suggested Klopp’s influence with the national team had offered hope that the player could rediscover his best level.
With Isak and Gakpo absent, Carragher said Liverpool needed Barcola and Wirtz to support Munoz and Koumas. Instead, he argued, the two younger forwards had produced a better showing than the club’s two £100m signings.
The former Liverpool defender was particularly critical of the comparison with Gravenberch. Although Gravenberch began the campaign poorly and lost his place for a period, Carragher said the midfielder had become a positive figure before his dismissal against City.
“There is no way Wirtz should be playing ahead of Gravenberch,” Carragher said, insisting that the decision should be reconsidered even after Liverpool were reduced to 10 men.
Concern after long Liverpool spell
Wirtz joined for £116.5m and has now played roughly 55 to 60 matches for Liverpool. Carragher contrasted that experience with Barcola’s four or five appearances, saying a new arrival can reasonably be allowed time to settle but that Wirtz has already had a substantial opportunity to establish himself.
He said Wirtz’s contribution has not been sufficient and argued that the player currently provides little threat around goal. Carragher said there was nothing in the City defeat to indicate that Wirtz was close to scoring, testing the goalkeeper or creating a decisive opening for a team-mate.
“He shouldn’t be in the Liverpool team right now,” Carragher said. “We’re not saying this after five to 10 games; we’re saying this after 50 to 60 games.”
Gravenberch’s red card will now bring a suspension, further reducing Liverpool’s options in midfield. With Isak and Gakpo also unavailable, Iraola and his staff must find a response after the Anfield loss while deciding whether to continue with Wirtz or remove him from the side.
