Carragher calls for Liverpool star to be dropped after Man City loss

Jamie Carragher believes Florian Wirtz should be taken out of the Liverpool team after another frustrating performance in their 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.

The former Liverpool defender feels the midfielder is not offering enough either on or off the ball and says the Reds can no longer afford to wait for him to find form.

“I think he needs to come out of the team, I said that last time out and I’m going to say it again,” Carragher said on Sky Sports.

“I said Liverpool played well today for a lot of the game before the Ryan Gravenberch red card but they didn’t create a chance, so Liverpool have a real problem this season with scoring goals and creating chances and that’s what you bought Wirtz for.

“He’s not giving you anything defensively and he’s not giving you anything going the other way.”

Carragher stressed that he does not want the criticism to become personal, but believes Liverpool are entitled to expect more.

“I don’t want anyone to pile in on the lad or have a go but I just think we’re justified in saying we need more and we can’t wait,” he said.

“I went back and looked at players who were deemed not good enough for Liverpool in terms of going to win a league title or a European Cup but had real impact in those positions,” Carragher said.

“Players like Nicky Barmby, Vladimir Smicer, Yossi Benayoun, Maxi Rodriguez, Jari Litmanen, Philippe Coutinho, Steven Gerrard, Steve McManaman.

“They’ve brought more to the table than this lad right now.”

Carragher added that Liverpool may need to rethink the balance of their midfield to add more goals, assists and physicality.

“I just think we’re at a stage where we can’t wait any longer,” he said.

“I think there’s got to be a rebalance of the midfield to get goals and assists in there and to get legs, height and power in there.

“Gravenberch has to play in that team.”