It’s been a fascinating time at Liverpoolever since Jurgen Klopp left in the summer of 2024. Arne Slot came in and immediately won the Premier Leaguebefore getting the sack after a dismal follow-up campaign.
Andoni Iraola is now in charge, having impressed at Bournemouth since arriving in England in 2023. It’s far too early to judge the Spaniard, who got off to a mixed start, drawing 2-2 away at Newcastle United, having trailed twice before rescuing a point thanks to a last-gasp Dominik Szoboszlai penalty.
Klopp didn’t stay away from football for long after leaving Anfield, becoming the Head of Global Soccer with the Red Bull Group, before becoming head coach of the German national team after the 2026 World Cup. However, it seems he’s still been keeping a close eye on his former side and hasn’t been happy with Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville over their criticism of one Liverpool player,
Jurgen Klopp Defends Liverpool Star
Despite being on Sky Sports Germany to discuss the Bundesliga opening match between Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart on Friday night, the conversation turned to a Premier League star. That man was Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz.
Klopp will now be coaching the former Bayer Leverkusen player with the German national team, and he’s been quick to defend the 23-year-old, who has yet to convince many since signing for the Reds last summer for a total package of £116.5m. Both Carragher and Neville were critical of Wirtz after the draw with Newcastle, but Klopp has called them out for a lack of patience.
Speaking to Sky Sports, as quoted by Liverpool.com, he said: “I think Liverpool, at least, have absolutely understood where he actually needs to play. That is, of course, centrally in the half spaces, the pockets where he needs to operate.
“But Flo also has to learn, of course. He has to play in such a way that, in the end, the manager doesn’t even consider taking him off. That’s just how it is. We can’t help him with that.”
“I think they [Liverpool] will learn how to integrate him, and Flo simply has to play his game. That’s what it’s about. And I’d like to give him the opportunity to do that at some point.
“But anyone who wants to play for us HAS TO BE ABLE to counterpress. I played Shinji Kagawa as a No. 10. He didn’t make a single tackle and was still one of the best counterpressing players I’ve ever had. It’s not about physicality. It’s about wanting to contribute in that respect as well.
“From a footballing point of view, he is beyond any doubt, for me and for everyone else too. But Jamie Carragher, Gary Neville and so on are, of course, always the first ones to get nervous in England.”
What Carragher and Neville Have Said About Wirtz
After the opening game draw against Newcastle, in which Wirtz was subbed without making much of an impact, Neville admitted that he’d been “kind” on the player, inferring that he should have been harsher on the German last season. Adding to this, Carragher spoke in great detail about his issues with the Liverpool midfielder.
“I don’t see where he fits in at all in the team, Carragher said. “I thought I’d be having that conversation in four or six weeks. I’m looking at it right now thinking, ‘What’s Iraola going to do with this?’ You can’t keep going with it. It’s not working. It didn’t work last season. I just think it’s getting into the stage that he doesn’t fit in.”
Carragher then questioned Wirtz’s high transfer fee and expressed doubts over his ability to fulfil his potential at the club. Neville then offered his thoughts, firmily adding:
“He needs to sort himself out. Enough’s enough now, we’ve talked about him enough. He’s young and he’s come to a different country — and I’m all for willing him on.”
Liverpool take on Nottingham Forest at Anfield in their first home game of the season this weekend, before taking on Ipswich Town, Fulham and Bournemouth before the October international break. It will be interesting to see how Wirtz gets on in those games before linking up with Klopp for the first time
