Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has warned against writing off £116million playmaker Florian Wirtz, saying the Germany international is short of confidence and needs support from senior players at Anfield.
The 23-year-old has had a difficult start to life on Merseyside after Arne Slot's side won the race to sign him last summer. In his second season in the Premier League, Wirtz's struggles persist and he was brought off during the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City having failed to make an impact in the encounter.
Carragher's criticism
Performances from Wirtz have led to criticism, including from former defender Jamie Carragher. The Sky Sports pundit has previously picked holes in the playmaker's game after the win over Bournemouth, but he doubled down on Sunday as he called for more of an impact from a player of his quality and price tag.
Gerrard has highlighted Wirtz's lack of confidence, with the attacker contributing just one assist in the first six Premier League games for the Reds. The 46-year-old has picked out the German's best position and called for more support from his teammates.
Gerrard's verdict
"I think Wirtz's best position is number 10," Gerrard said on The Overlap. "I don't think he's got the speed to play out wide. If you go back to his Bayer Leverkusen days, his history is creating and scoring goals from that number 10 position, and a team being built around him and that type of player."
"I'm not sure this Liverpool team is set and ready for Florian Wirtz to come in and thrive. Maybe if they had Sadio Mane still and Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, maybe he would thrive more. I believe he would thrive more."
"And if Liverpool can get Barcola firing, Alexander Isak firing, Victor Munoz, Hugo Ekitike, Rio Ngumoha, if he can get them all fit and available, I think he'll feel better because he'll have more forward runs in the team, he'll have better players around him."
Sturridge exchange
Carragher was embroiled in an exchange with former Liverpool teammate Daniel Sturridge during the post-match analysis in the wake of the 3-0 defeat. Sturridge was accused of making up excuses for Wirtz's struggles as Carragher felt that after 60 games for the Reds, the £116m man should do more.
Carragher said on Sunday: "We are definitely not judging him harshly, I think we need to make that point, but what I am going to say is, I felt going forward because you can’t just throw away a £100m player. I thought going forward the next step would be to put him on the left. He plays there for Germany."
"I think if you go to the summer he plays left in a 4-4-2 for Germany. I thought that was the last chance saloon. Can you get him in a pocket? Can you get a full-back going on the outside of him. I totally get that but the manager Liverpool employed is a wingers man."
"He just wants wingers so he will never have that guy in that position. And it was all about Florian Wirtz is there and you are thinking can he get on the ball and can he be feeding wide players and a No.9."
"Now the position you are talking about is you see where Morgan Rogers is playing now. That is what you are talking about isn’t it? In my head in the summer I was thinking would Xabi Alonso become the manager? The reason being is that nobody knows Florian Wirtz better than Xabi Alonso."
"Okay the club decides to go a different way, but that was one of my thoughts. Alonso could come in and unlock Wirtz, your big money signing."
"I understand what you are saying there that left pocket, but to let someone completely off the hook who doesn't score a goal or create chances, doesn't do anything because we are asking him to play 10-yards further inside, at times he will find himself in that left pocked and he has got to do an awful lot more."
Gerrard's support plea
Gerrard said: "Wirtz's confidence is shot. He's not playing well enough. We need to see more from him. So, I agree with Jamie Carragher to that extent. But I think Jamie's more like, he needs to be moved to the side. I think the kid needs help. I think he needs help from his manager, from his coaches."
"I think he needs help from his senior players. I can just picture him beating himself up on how his Liverpool thing started. This kid is a major talent in my opinion. I've seen enough to believe and give him a chance. I think he needs help and support now."
"But I do think having better Liverpool players fit and available around him will help him, because there's been a lot of change, and they are in this little transition moment."
"Whether they should be or not because of the money they've spent, that's a different debate. But I think Florian Wirtz needs help now. And I think sometimes in this situation, if everyone was fit and available, maybe the best thing is for him to come out and have a couple of games on the bench."
"When I suffered form-wise and I needed the help from managers and coaches, I didn't believe it at the time, but when managers took me out and put me on the bench or left me out or gave me a rest, sometimes just watching the team and being gutted you've been taken out."
"Seeing someone else do well in your position or thrive, and that little bit of fear of, maybe am I not the main player anymore, or am I not Liverpool's number 10 anymore, it could help Florian Wirtz. I have seen enough to know there's a player there, there's huge potential there. Does he need help and support right now? Yes, because his confidence is affected, and I can see it in him."
"He needs to do more. He needs to step up a bit more. He needs to realise the situation he's in. But there's definitely a player there, in my opinion."
"Is he suited to the Premier League? Is he getting knocked about a bit? Yes, he is. He can have help and support in all the areas to make him work at Liverpool. I wouldn't be giving up on him just yet. I think it's too early."
