Florian Wirtz must prove Jurgen Klopp right as Liverpool sent 'last hope' warning

· Mirror

Florian Wirtz still isn't firing for Liverpool and came in for criticism following their 1-0 win at Bournemouth - but he can expect an arm around the shoulder from Jurgen Klopp on international duty

Football fans should know by now. It's hard to argue with Jamie Carragher.

The Liverpool legend is one of the most respected pundits in the game, firm but fair. And no more was that the case than in his analysis of Florian Wirtz after Liverpool ground out a 1-0 win at Bournemouth.

> "That was one of the poorest I've ever seen him in a Liverpool shirt." Carragher declared on his Sky Sports podcast.

Against a Bournemouth side who'd played away in Europe on the Thursday night, and with Alexander Isak, Bradley Barcola, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai set to spread Cherries' defence thin, it was supposed be an afternoon on which Wirtz stamped his authority.

But Sunday went differently, as Wirtz ultimately came off in the 73rd minute with the jury still out for many. Not for Carragher, though.

> "I don't think Wirtz is in poor form since he came to Liverpool," the ex-centre-back added. "I actually think what we're seeing is what he is.

That's a far cry from Jurgen Klopp's verdict. "Exceptional", "once in a century" - that's just some of the praise which the Germany manager has showered onto Wirtz since his £116million move to Anfield in 2025.

Now, after all the talk, Klopp gets to work with him. The playmaker is one of 44 players who've received call-ups from the former Liverpool manager ahead of the two-week international window.

As Klopp splits his squad in two, Wirtz will only feature in Germany's final two games against Serbia and Greece, notably missing their Nations League opener against the Netherlands. With due respect to Serbia and Greece, those are two opponents which the 23-year-old should be relishing facing.

Klopp is braced for inquests into Wirtz's performances, but says that that expectations need to be lowered.

> "We need to be satisfied when Flo Wirtz plays a game in which he gave everything but didn't register a goal or assist," the German stressed.

> "We simply need to give the boy the feeling, 'That was more than good enough today. You helped us as a team. We won 1-0 or 2-0'."

Andoni Iraola seems to be listening, saying in a post-match interview:

> "I think we improved [during the game against Bournemouth]. Florian has helped us also to improve. Second half he was playing much better, he was finding better spots to receive and turn."

But Wirtz's managers can't defend him forever. He needs to deliver - or else Iraola's patience could run out.

As Carragher warned:

> "The last hope is that Jurgen Klopp can do something special and he comes back [better]. But if you're asking me, with Liverpool going back into a run of games against top opposition - Manchester City at home - he can't be in the team."

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