Carragher leads chorus of criticism as Wirtz struggles again in Man City defeat
Florian Wirtz has come under heavy scrutiny following Liverpool's 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, with pundits and former players lining up to question the German playmaker's form and future at Anfield.
Jamie Carragher has been the most vocal critic, with TeamTalk reporting he has "demanded" Wirtz be dropped immediately, crucifying the star for giving "nowhere near enough" in the loss (TeamTalk). Liverpool.com says Carragher "doubled down" on his criticism with a "damning plea to Andoni Iraola", suggesting the Bournemouth boss' approach could offer lessons (Liverpool.com). The Liverpool Echo adds that Carragher has made a "public plea" to the club over Wirtz, insisting "it's not right" (Liverpool Echo).
Not everyone agrees with Carragher's assessment. The Liverpool Echo reports that Carragher and Daniel Sturridge "clash" over the issue, with Wirtz described as a "divisive" figure among pundits (Liverpool Echo). Liverpool.com goes further, saying Carragher has accused Sturridge of "making excuses" for Wirtz, highlighting a genuine disagreement among former players about how harshly the playmaker should be judged (Liverpool.com).
Elsewhere, the comparisons being drawn are becoming increasingly unflattering. Liverpool.com reports that ex-Liverpool star Jermaine Pennant has likened Wirtz to Darwin Nunez, raising concerns about his long-term future at the club, though Pennant added he "hopes" he is wrong (Liverpool.com). This Is Anfield cites views that academy player Victor Munoz has looked "a lot sharper" than both Bradley Barcola and a "poor" Wirtz, reflecting just how low confidence in the German has sunk among observers (This Is Anfield).
Sky Sports, in their Premier League hits and misses column, frame Wirtz as one of the weekend's biggest misses, saying he "fails to offer return on Liverpool's huge investment" and "shrinks on the big occasion again" - drawing a contrast with Manchester City's Elliot Anderson, who is praised as a "bargain" (Sky Sports).
Taken together, the outlets broadly agree that Wirtz endured another difficult outing against City and that scrutiny of his performances is intensifying, with his hefty transfer fee repeatedly referenced as part of the pressure. Where they differ is on how to interpret it: Carragher and Sky Sports take the harshest line, while Sturridge and Pennant strike a more sympathetic, if still concerned, tone about whether Wirtz can adapt to the demands of English football.
Written with the help of AI, using the headlines from the publishers credited above. Each point links to the original report — tap the source name to read it in full.