“IT MAKES NO SENSE!” – CARRAGHER SLAMS SLOT FOR BENCHING WIRTZ AGAINST BURNLEY
Liverpool may have edged out Burnley with a late winner, but the performance sparked frustration among fans and pundits alike. Despite controlling possession, the Reds lacked a cutting edge—something Jamie Carragher says was entirely avoidable.
Speaking after the game, Carragher didn’t hold back:
“Liverpool are struggling to score in games like this because Slot keeps benching him. No top manager would leave a player like that out. It disrupts the whole attack.”
The target of his criticism? Florian Wirtz.
The Wirtz Dilemma
Signed to inject creativity and link up with Mohamed Salah and record signing Alexander Isak, Wirtz was again left out of the starting XI. Instead, Slot opted for a more conservative midfield setup, which failed to carve open Burnley’s defense.
By the time Wirtz came on, Liverpool had already squandered several good chances.
“Almost Criminal” – Carragher
Carragher doubled down on his stance:
“You’ve got a world-class playmaker sat on the bench while the team is desperate for creativity. It’s almost criminal. Wirtz should be one of the first names on the team sheet.”
He even warned that Slot risks unsettling the dressing room if Wirtz’s role doesn’t change.
Fans in Agreement
Supporters echoed Carragher’s frustration on social media. One wrote: “Bench Wirtz and you bench creativity. We were toothless until he came on. Slot needs to stop overthinking.”
Others accused Slot of being overly cautious, stifling Liverpool’s new-look attack rather than unleashing it.
What’s Next for Slot
With tougher fixtures looming and rivals like Manchester City and Arsenal racking up goals, Slot is under growing pressure to rethink his approach.
As Carragher put it:
“No manager benches a player like Wirtz. Start him—or risk Liverpool’s title challenge slipping away.”
