Florian Wirtz stole the show as Liverpool finally got back to winning ways against West Ham - but one huge concern was raised in the aftermatch
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 30: Florian Richard Wirtz of Liverpool reacts after West Ham United goalkeeper Alphonse Areola had saved his shot during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Liverpool at London Stadium on November 30, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Florian Wirtz's performance against West Ham was branded his 'best in a Liverpool shirt'
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Everything Jamie Carragher said about Florian Wirtz after his brilliant performance in Liverpool's win over West Ham.
Elite comparison: Jamie Carragher publicly compared Florian Wirtz to former Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne, suggesting the German playmaker has the potential to become his long-term replacement in the Premier League. Carragher stressed that Wirtz is the "real deal" and demonstrated his world-class ability in the win over West Ham.
Best performance: Wirtz’s display against West Ham United was widely hailed as his best Premier League performance since his club-record £116 million move from Bayer Leverkusen. This strong showing was a significant response to the previous criticism Wirtz had faced regarding his early-season form.
Tactical positioning: Carragher specifically advised coach Arne Slot to utilise Wirtz in the inside left channel - an advanced midfield role - to maximise his talents. This positioning aligns with the successful role Wirtz played at Leverkusen, where he thrived at connecting play centrally and on the half-turn.
Slot's risk: Liverpool head coach Arne Slot admitted to ignoring advice from his own performance staff to substitute Wirtz earlier in the match. Slot noted that keeping Wirtz in until the 75th minute was "a bit of a risk" since the player had missed training due to a recent injury.
Squad alarm bells: Carragher warned that Wirtz's impressive emergence creates a significant squad balance challenge for Arne Slot. The success of Wirtz playing in his favoured role could potentially create selection headaches and a knock-on effect for other midfielders, such as Dominik Szoboszlai.
Passing excellence: The German demonstrated exceptional composure and control against West Ham, completing an impressive 93% of his passes, tallying 42 accurate passes out of 45 attempts. This high passing accuracy underlines his intelligence and ability to retain possession under pressure in key areas of the pitch.
Influence on goals: Wirtz was crucial in creating dangerous attacking opportunities and linking play effectively with forwards like Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak. His overall contribution was vital in helping Liverpool secure a critical 2-0 victory and end a poor run of form.
Salah selection dilemma: The playmaker’s standout performance occurred while Liverpool star Mohamed Salah remained on the bench for tactical reasons. This successful result without Salah highlights that Slot may have found a system that effectively utilises Wirtz’s skills, creating a potential selection dilemma for future matches.