Jamie Carragher has called for Florian Wirtz to add goals and assists to his game, despite claiming he looked “a level above everyone else on the pitch” during Liverpool’s win over West Ham.
Wirtz returned to the Reds’ side after a short injury lay-off on Sunday to star in the 2-0 win over the Hammers, with the victory easing some of the pressure on Arne Slot after what has been an awful of couple of months for the club.
The Liverpool boss isn’t in the clear yet though, and he will need to find a way for his side to return to winning form tomorrow as it faces Sunderland.
Whether Wirtz will start again will be one of the big decisions facing Slot, with the German international already having played 75 minutes at the weekend.
Wirtz has earned plenty of plaudits for his performance against West Ham, with former Red Carragher suggesting it was his best in a Liverpool shirt so far.
The 22-year-old still remains without a goal or assist in the Premier League though, and Carragher insists that will have to follow if he’s to live up to his hefty price tag.
Florian Wirtz brings the ball down while playing for Liverpool against West Ham.
Florian Wirtz impressed for Liverpool against West Ham (Image: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
“Florian Wirtz played well against Real Madrid, but that [game vs West Ham] was the first time I watched him and thought he was a level above everyone else on the pitch,” Carragher said on The Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet.
“That’s how he should look when you’re paying that type of money – I’m not trying to put more pressure on him, but that was the first time I’ve seen him look a level above.
“That shouldn’t be a one off. He didn’t set a goal up, he didn’t score, so he’s still got to get that as well, but the level he put in, I want that most weeks – you are a superstar player who was the best player in Germany and broke the British transfer record before [Alexander] Isak came.
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“You have Sunderland and Leeds, two teams who Liverpool should dominate – maybe not win but still dominate with the ball. I hope that’s him off and running.”
Whether Wirtz will start against Sunderland tomorrow is in doubt, although Slot suggested he may decide to stick with him, Alexander Isak and Joe Gomez, despite the risk given their recent injury problems.
"I think they are not able to play three times 90, that is for sure," Slot said in his pre-match press conference. "Now I have to wait and see how they feel today, if they are able to play from the start again.
"But all three of them can be involved in all three games, if they don’t get an injury. That is a fair assumption to make.”