Jamie Carragher has called on Andoni Iraola to drop Florian Wirtz for Liverpool's clash with Manchester City after describing the midfielder's display against Bournemouth as one of his worst since arriving at Anfield.
Wirtz struggled to make an impact in Liverpool's 1-0 win at the Vitality Stadium, prompting Carragher to question whether his underwhelming start is simply a matter of form or a sign of a bigger problem.
"That was one of the poorest I've ever seen him in a Liverpool shirt," Carragher said on the Jamie Carragher Podcast.
"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."
Carragher had already voiced his frustration with Wirtz while on commentary during the game, saying of his first-half display, "It's just nothing. Nothing is happening there at all."
The former Liverpool defender said his concerns over Wirtz predated Saturday's performance and pointed to a previous game against Burnley as an example of the lack of attacking threat he believes the midfielder has shown.
"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."
Wirtz arrived at Liverpool amid significant expectations, but Carragher believes the midfielder has considerable ground to make up if he is to become the player the club expected.
"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.
"The gap he's got to get to almost justify what people were expecting, I almost think is too big. You can't get there. Even if he improves a bit and gets there, it's still not what Liverpool thought they were getting."
Carragher also believes Wirtz's role at No. 10 is forcing Szoboszlai into a position that does not suit him.
"And it's not just Wirtz, it's the knock-on effect. So when he plays at No 10, it means Dominik Szoboszlai has to play central midfield. I don't think Szoboszlai is a central-midfield player, I don't."
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Liverpool face Manchester City at Anfield after the international break, and Carragher believes Iraola now faces a significant decision over whether to persist with Wirtz.
"I think going forward Iraola's got a decision to make here. Wirtz would not be in my Liverpool team," Carragher said.
"I thought this Bournemouth game was a big game for Wirtz. Because if he doesn't produce [against Bournemouth], he's then going to have a three-week break. By the time we come back, we're into October. Before you know it, it'll be Christmas in six to eight weeks, or it'll feel like we're getting to Christmas. He has to do something!"
Carragher then pointed to the contributions of several other Premier League midfielders as he questioned what Wirtz has offered Liverpool.
"I think of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall at Everton. No one out there would say Dewsbury-Hall is a better player than Wirtz, or would go for more money than Wirtz, or would cost £120m. But every three or four weeks he scores a goal.
"I watched Morgan Gibbs-White for Nottingham Forest last week at Aston Villa, and in the second half he put in a performance in 45 minutes that Florian Wirtz has never done before for Liverpool.
"I've seen a goal Emiliano BuendÃa scored for Aston Villa at Tottenham. Again, these players aren't going to get over £100m, or £120m, but they're still giving their clubs bits every few weeks.
"Wirtz wouldn't be in my Liverpool team. Manchester City at home, for me, he can't be in the team."
Carragher believes Iraola has already demonstrated that he is prepared to make difficult selection calls and urged him to show the same decisiveness over Wirtz.
"The things I've liked so far about Iraola, he's had the courage to make big decisions. Ryan Gravenberch has just signed a hefty contract on a five-year deal on massive money, because they thought him and Szoboszlai were going to be the future of the midfield going forward. He's not playing.
"The full-back situation, he keeps changing the full-backs, he's dropped Jeremie Frimpong straight away. Milos Kerkez has been in and out. So he's made decisions.
"But sooner or later he's going to have to make a decision on Florian Wirtz, and, for me, I hope it's sooner. Not because I don't like Florian Wirtz, I'm desperate for the kid to do well. I just want Liverpool to win. That's it, basically."
Wirtz will now turn his attention to international duty with Germany, where Carragher believes former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp could help the midfielder rediscover his confidence before he returns to Merseyside.
"The one hope for Liverpool supporters now is Jurgen Klopp is the Germany manager," Carragher said.
"Wirtz goes away with the Germany team for three weeks, and he's obviously one of the best players in Germany, that's how they see him. Can Jurgen Klopp sprinkle a bit of stardust on him in that position?
"Jurgen is one of the greatest managers in the world, we know that. And what he gets out of players is probably more than most managers because of the nature of his personality, and fingers crossed something can happen for him.
"There's a scenario there that Jurgen Klopp and Germany have a great international window, he gets loads of goals, assists and comes back on a high. Manchester City's the next game, he impacts that, all is forgotten, all is forgiven. There's a potential turnaround there.
"I would love that to happen, I'd love him to be the match-winner against Manchester City."
