Athletic Club v Girona FC - LaLiga EA Sports Jamie Carragher receives Athletic ClubÕs One Club Man Award during a pre-match ceremony during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Athletic Club and Girona FC at San Mames on September 23, 2025, in Bilbao, Spain. Bilbao San Mames Basque Country Spain RL_ATHvGFC_000015 Copyright: xRicardoxLarreinax
Florian Wirtz is all over the news for all the wrong reasons this time, following his £116m transfer to Liverpool in the summer. The midfielder’s transfer broke the British transfer record, which has just added extra pressure on the two-time Bundesliga player of the season.
Wirtz isn’t a rising talent; despite being only 23, he has already cemented himself a place in the German national football team. Hence, it’s hard to believe that after eight games, Wirtz has only managed to provide one assist across all competitions for Liverpool.
Many fans and pundits haven’t been easy on the German, as Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney even claimed that he’d prefer Dominik Szobozslai over the player.
“So, is he a third midfield player? For me, no, he’s more of an attacking player. So if I have to choose between him and Szoboszlai, then I choose Szoboszlai.”
Quiz: Name the team Liverpool signed these players from in the 2010s
Jamie Carragher on Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher also seems to agree with Wayne Rooney, as he gave his opinion on Florian Wirtz’s start at Anfield.
“I think it’s fair to say he hasn’t been great for Liverpool so far, but also I don’t think Liverpool have been great for him so far. They have to come together and try to make things work as best as they possibly can.”
“Liverpool have got to do more for him also, as he’s not getting the ball anywhere near as often as before. He has found it tough. Newcastle away was always going to be a baptism of fire in that left-half position, but you’re coming up against that midfield, I can understand that. Against Burnley is where I thought we might see him at his best; he did okay.”
“This is happening quite a bit where he’s trying to get his shots off, and people are just on top of him a little bit quicker. We know the standards of the Premier League are better than the Bundesliga. It’s probably quicker.”
“He’s not being allowed to get his shots off. In this situation, it’s faster, people are on top of him more, it’s more physical, he’s a young boy, trying to meet the demands of the league, there’s no doubt about that.”
Carragher also talked about a wider problem with Argentine Alexis Mac Allister looking off. He claimed that Mac Allister’s form might also be one of the factors directly affecting Wirtz’s performance.
“I think another problem for Liverpool and for Wirtz is that Mac Allister hasn’t been at his best. I think he’s the guy who could feed him and get him the ball between the lines”, Carragher told the Mirror.
About the Author
