Jamie Carragher has expressed serious doubts about Florian Wirtz's suitability for the Liverpool squad, suggesting the £116.5m signing could be part of a disastrous transfer window. Following Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle, the pundit criticized new manager Andoni Iraola’s tactical setup, arguing it prevents any genuine Premier League title challenge.

Carragher highlighted that the midfield cannot function effectively with the current personnel and structure. He pointed out that while Manchester City succeeded with a similar double-pivot and No 10 formation, they utilized inside full-backs to protect against counters. In contrast, Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai frequently advanced upfield alongside Wirtz, leaving dangerous spaces behind.

The analysis also focused on defensive vulnerabilities, particularly regarding Virgil van Dijk. Carragher noted that Iraola’s instruction for players to aggressively press opponents clashes with Van Dijk’s deeper positioning. This mismatch creates large gaps, reminiscent of issues seen under Erik ten Hag at Man Utd. "He needs protecting, he needs cuddling, he needs looking after," Carragher stated, emphasizing the urgent need for a holding midfielder to stabilize the team.