Overview

• Jamie Carragher said Liverpool’s balance is off and identified Florian Wirtz as the clearest issue, arguing the 22-year-old is not at the required level right now.
• Carragher urged removing Wirtz from the side to restore stability after a second straight defeat, following the 0-1 Champions League loss in Istanbul.
• Wirtz joined from Bayer Leverkusen for about £116 million plus add-ons, with UK outlets describing him as struggling under the weight of expectations and looking lost at times.
• Wayne Rooney had already questioned Wirtz’s fit, saying he harms Liverpool’s balance and that he would pick Dominik Szoboszlai over him, while adding Wirtz is a top player who may improve.
• Across his early appearances Wirtz has yet to record a league goal contribution, has been used in an advanced midfield role, and has been regularly substituted without completing a full match.