Florian Wirtz arrived at Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen with a lot of expectations on him to deliver instantly, which he did not do.
The German scored 57 and assisted 65 in 197 matches during his time with Xabi Alonso’s former club.
However, Wirtz has been criticised in England, and Jamie Carragher has now admitted that he expected the Liverpool man to become a Premier League superstar and replace Kevin De Bruyne.
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Jamie Carragher thought Florian Wirtz would replace Kevin De Bruyne
Liverpool as a team are very much in transition right now, losing key players like Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson.
But ignoring the Reds for a second, it also feels like the Premier League on the whole is going through a transition phase.
A number of the league’s previously elite stars have either left, are leaving or have moved past their prime years.
On that front, Carragher has now suggested that he expected Wirtz to be part of the next generation of marquee names in the English top flight, but he’s yet to prove that he is.
Speaking to talkSPORT, the former Liverpool centre-back said: “We don’t quite have the superstar players in the Premier League right now with De Bruyne leaving, Salah leaving.
“We need some superstars. Well, I thought Florian Wirtz would be that guy, hasn’t quite happened yet.
“But as I said sometimes players need a bit of time to settle in England. I’m hoping he’s going to be that. I thought he’d almost replace Kevin De Bruyne, the attacking midfield player, hasn’t quite happened for him yet.”
Arne Slot outlines expectations for Florian Wirtz
In the Premier League, Wirtz has five goals and four assists in 2025/26 so far.
He has largely struggled against the bigger teams, but speaking ahead of Manchester United this week, Arne Slot praised the £116m player and backed him to come good against the bigger clubs.
He said: “I don’t only hope that, I am 100% sure he will turn up [against top six teams]. We play three of those now so there are chances but it so clear the development in 10 months, it is clear and obvious. 93 mins vs Crystal Palace, wins a throw-in and then hits it in the top corner.
“I was not convinced he could do that 8 months ago. His improvement, he was already an elite player, has been for me obvious. It will only continue. He is 23 on Sunday. That makes sense, every player is at his best at 25/26, he can only become better. That is the beauty of the signings we made.”
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