Liverpool may have won 1-0 away to Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon, but Florian Wirtz’s performance left Reds legend Jamie Carragher hugely frustrated.
Andoni Iraola returned to the Vitality Stadium and secured all three points in the Premier League in a significant result before the international break.
Liverpool weren’t at their best throughout, but they defended resolutely, with the likes of Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo all outstanding.
But one player who struggled badly was Wirtz, who made a shocking start to the game and never reached top gear, despite improving in the second half and being involved in Alexander Isak’s winner.
Speaking on The Jamie Carragher Podcast after the match, Carragher didn’t hold back in his criticism of Wirtz, saying he is nothing more than “neat and tidy” for Liverpool:
“That was one of the poorest I’ve ever seen him in a Liverpool shirt. I’ve been critical of the fact that he hasn’t got the numbers. But normally when you watch Wirtz, he’s neat and tidy, he keeps possession, there’s things that you like. He gets out of a tight situation where you’re normally expecting your player to lose the ball.
“But the reason I worry is, I don’t think Wirtz is in poor form since he came to Liverpool. I actually think what we’re seeing is what he is. And I was worried for Wirtz probably 12 months ago. And maybe that was a little bit early to say that, but I didn’t say it. It was just in the back of my head. “I commentated on Liverpool away at Burnley and Liverpool won with a late penalty from Mo Salah. And when I was watching that game it was what I’ve seen for the last 12 months: I don’t see how he’s going to hurt you. It’s just neat and tidy. And in some way, the price tag for that type of player should be half of what Liverpool have paid.
“The worry for Wirtz now is that his performances so far, or what he’s given Liverpool, is so low. Where we were expecting him was to take Liverpool to another league title, to take Liverpool to a Champions League.”
Florian Wirtz HAS to do more or Liverpool will sell
Wirtz is clearly a footballer with a huge amount of talent, as well as an admirable work ethic, but even his most ardent supporter would find it hard to defend him.
The 23-year-old is doing nowhere near enough to influence games, losing the ball repeatedly, not showing enough physicality and generally finding himself on the periphery of matches.
Wirtz was brought in from Bayer Leverkusen to be a match-winner for Liverpool, but he so rarely looks like that player, even appearing hesitant to shoot at times.
The Premier League will chew up any player from abroad if they don’t adjust to it fully, and on the evidence of the past 12 months, Wirtz cannot get to grips with it.
Every Liverpool fan is desperate to see him reach his potential and be one of the best players in the division, but that feels a long way from happening, and if he doesn’t improve, it is easy to see the Reds selling him at the end of the season.