Carragher: “Wirtz Needs to Step Aside Until Liverpool Find Balance”
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has sounded the alarm over the Reds’ turbulent start under Arne Slot, hinting that one of the club’s marquee summer signings, Florian Wirtz, may need a spell out of the starting XI.
Back-to-back defeats to Crystal Palace and Galatasaray have left supporters questioning both Slot’s tactics and the impact of the summer rebuild. Even in earlier wins, late goals and defensive lapses hinted at deeper problems.
Carragher, speaking on CBS Sports, didn’t hold back:
“Right now, I don’t feel like I’m watching a top side. Liverpool look unstructured—it’s basketball football, end-to-end chaos. That’s not how elite teams should play.”
The former centre-back argued that Liverpool’s big-money additions were supposed to raise the level, but have instead disrupted the squad’s rhythm:
“The attack hasn’t really improved, and defensively they look weaker compared to last season.”
Spotlight on Wirtz
Carragher then turned his focus to Wirtz, who has struggled to adjust to Premier League pace since his high-profile move from Bayer Leverkusen:
“The balance isn’t right and Wirtz stands out. He’s not up to speed yet. He’s a fantastic young player with a huge future here, but for now I think he needs to come out of the side. Let Liverpool regroup, get the structure right defensively, and then reintroduce him.”
Fans Left Wondering
The comments fuel an already heated debate among supporters: should Slot stick with Wirtz until he adapts, or take Carragher’s advice and protect him with a step back from the starting lineup?
With Liverpool’s rebuild under fresh scrutiny, the coming weeks could define whether Slot’s project is a bold step forward — or a costly miscalculat
