Jamie Carragher has expressed skepticism about Florian Wirtz's ability to thrive in English football, suggesting the German international may lack what is needed to cope with the physical demands of the Premier League as he enters what the former defender describes as a pivotal season at Liverpool.
Wirtz moved to Anfield from Bayer Leverkusen last summer in a £115m transfer, one of the most expensive deals in the club's history. However, his first season in England did not go to plan, as Liverpool endured a turbulent title defense that ultimately saw manager Arne Slot depart at the campaign's conclusion. Despite occasional glimpses of his quality, Wirtz struggled for consistency, and Liverpool slipped to a fifth-place finish in the table.
Writing in a column for the Telegraph, Carragher did not hold back in his assessment of the playmaker's prospects. "The jury is out on whether he possesses the tools to overcome the physical challenge. I must admit, I have my doubts," he wrote.
The former England defender also drew comparisons to another creative midfielder who once carried similarly lofty expectations at a Premier League club. "When he joined Liverpool, the hope at Anfield was that Wirtz would dominate in the same manner as Kevin De Bruyne did. But the German does not have the athleticism or running and shooting power of De Bruyne," Carragher explained.
According to Carragher, Wirtz's performances so far have fallen short of the standard his fee and reputation demanded. "Even at his best, Wirtz has looked 'neat and tidy' rather than the killer in and around the penalty box one would have expected given his fee and reputation. He has resembled a useful squad addition for about £40m rather than a game-changer who cost £115m," he added.
Carragher acknowledged the argument made by some of Wirtz's supporters that adapting to English football often takes time, sometimes requiring a full season before a foreign talent finds his footing. However, he warned that the German could once again find himself shifted out of his preferred role — or even out of the starting lineup altogether — if Liverpool's defensive frailties persist under new management.
"If Wirtz does not have the desired impact in the early games this season, it is not difficult to foresee history repeating itself and Iraola realising he must compromise attacking romanticism for pragmatism," Carragher noted, referring to how Slot had been compelled to deploy Wirtz on the left flank rather than in his natural attacking midfield position during the previous campaign.
He further suggested that new boss Andoni Iraola's tactical setup, which relies on traditional wide players, could complicate matters for Wirtz. "Given Iraola sets up his side with out-and-out wingers, such circumstances would raise serious doubts about Wirtz's future," Carragher said.
Wirtz's underwhelming debut season came despite arriving as part of an ambitious summer overhaul that also brought in Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, and Jeremie Frimpong. Of that group, only Ekitike managed to consistently impress as Liverpool finished a distant 25 points behind champions Arsenal.
Attention now turns to the new campaign, with Liverpool set to open their 2026/27 season away at Newcastle United on Sunday, 23 August, kicking off at 4:30pm — a fixture that could offer an early indication of whether Wirtz is ready to answer his doubters.
Based on reporting from The Independent.