Liverpool may have escaped Turf Moor with three points against Burnley, but the performance left both fans and pundits frustrated. Despite dominating possession, the Reds lacked spark in attack—and club legend Jamie Carragher believes he knows why: Arne Slot’s refusal to start Florian Wirtz.
Carragher’s Fury
Speaking after the match, Carragher didn’t hold back:
“The reason Liverpool struggle to break down teams like Burnley is because Slot refuses to start him. No manager in their right mind would keep a player of that quality on the bench. It kills the attack’s rhythm.”
The “him” was, of course, Wirtz—Liverpool’s headline summer signing.
The Wirtz Dilemma
Billed as a generational talent and compared to Kevin De Bruyne, Wirtz arrived to form a lethal partnership with Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak. Yet, once again, Slot opted for a cautious midfield setup, leaving Wirtz on the bench.
The result? Liverpool controlled the game but lacked invention until Wirtz was introduced late on—by which point several opportunities had already gone to waste.
“Almost Criminal”
Carragher’s frustration was plain to see:
“You’ve got a world-class creator sitting there while the team cries out for invention. It’s almost criminal. Wirtz should be one of the first names on the team sheet—he’s exactly the kind of player who wins these tight matches.”
He even suggested that Slot risks creating unrest within the dressing room if the German star continues to be sidelined.
Fans Echo Carragher
Liverpool supporters quickly rallied behind Carragher’s criticism. Social media erupted, with one fan writing:
“Bench Wirtz and you bench creativity. We looked clueless until he came on. Slot is overthinking everything.”
Others accused the Dutch manager of being “too cautious” and “holding back Liverpool’s new-look attack.”
What’s Next for Slot?
With Manchester City and Arsenal racking up goals, Slot is under increasing pressure to unleash Wirtz from the start. Carragher’s warning was blunt:
“No manager in world football benches a player like Wirtz. Play him—or Liverpool’s title challenge could slip away.”