Jamie Carragher Calls for Liverpool's Florian Wirtz to Be Dropped
Jamie Carragher has recommended that Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola consider dropping Florian Wirtz due to the player's lackluster performance at the start of the season. Analysis from Sky Sports highlights Wirtz's struggles in comparison to other Premier League number 10s who have recently joined their clubs.
Wirtz's transition to Liverpool has been challenging, with a hefty price tag of £116 million and high expectations weighing heavily on him. In his 39 Premier League appearances since last summer, he has recorded an average of 0.18 assists and 0.16 goals, alongside creating 2.2 chances per 90 minutes. These statistics fall short when compared to the early performances of players like Kevin De Bruyne, Cole Palmer, and Martin Odegaard.
Despite being in the 90th percentile for chances created among attacking midfielders in Europe's top leagues, Wirtz's assist numbers are below average. His performance metrics indicate a decline in effectiveness, with a drop in chances created and touches in the opposition box compared to last season. As he continues to adapt to the Premier League, questions arise about his role in Iraola's system, which emphasizes wing play over central creativity.
