Former Liverpool players disagree over Florian Wirtz's struggles as playmaker puts in disappointing performance against Manchester City
Jamie Carragher slammed Florian Wirtz's latest performance
Jamie Carragher slammed Florian Wirtz's latest performance(Image: Sky Sports)
Jamie Carragher has accused his former Liverpool teammate Daniel Sturridge of 'making excuses' for Florian Wirtz after the playmaker put in a disappointing performance against Manchester City.
Liverpool was ultimately beaten by the Manchester club at Anfield on Sunday, with a second yellow card for Ryan Gravenberch proving a key turning point in the match. The Reds, although unable to capitalize on their periods of dominance, had looked the better side for large spells.
After the sending-off, City went on to score three goals, courtesy of strikes from Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki. Liverpool's deepening injury crisis was also a factor, but Carragher insists it was the responsibility of expensive signings, such as Wirtz, to rise to the occasion.
The pundit delivered a scathing assessment of Wirtz's performance during the post-match analysis and doubled down when Sturridge attempted to offer some mitigation. Wirtz, who is yet to live up to his price tag, has been on the receiving end of harsh criticism from pundits and fans this season.
"I don't think he is a natural No.10," Sturridge explained. "I don't think that is his best position.
"I think his best position is coming off the left but Liverpool spent a lot of money on Barcola. I said Liverpool needed a right winger in the summer.
"The No.10 position is a difficult one. I have played it. You have to influence the game with players giving you the ball in between the lines. He is almost impacting the game in areas where he isn't at his best.
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool warms up before the Premier League match against Manchester City
Florian Wirtz put in a disappointing performance in Liverpool's Premier League defeat against Manchester City(Image: Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
"It is different coming from the wing than it is as a No.10. It is completely different. We are judging a player in a position that may not be his best position. We are judging him harshly based on what we see."
Carragher, meanwhile, did not agree with the former Liverpool striker's assessment of Wirtz's current predicament. Instead, he accused Sturridge of playing down the player's responsibility to perform.
"I think you are making really big excuses," Carragher countered. "He can still find those positions from the No.10 role. He never picks the ball up centrally.
"We are definitely not judging him harshly. You can't just throw away a £100m player. I thought the next step would be to play him from the left, as a last chance saloon.
"But the manager will never have him in that position. He wants wingers. You can't let someone completely off the hook, who doesn't score or get assists. He has to do more."