“IT MAKES NO SENSE!” – JAMIE CARRAGHER BLASTS SLOT FOR LEAVING LIVERPOOL STAR ON THE BENCH AGAINST BURNLEY
Liverpool may have secured a late win over Burnley, but the display left plenty of frustration among fans and pundits. Despite dominating the ball and creating chances, the Reds struggled to break down Vincent Kompany’s side—and Jamie Carragher thinks Arne Slot only has himself to blame.
Speaking after the game, Carragher was blunt:
> “Liverpool are struggling to score in matches like this because Slot keeps benching him. No top manager would have a player like that available and choose not to start him. It’s disrupting the entire attack.”
The player in question? Florian Wirtz.
The Wirtz Problem
Signed to be Liverpool’s creative spark, Wirtz was expected to link up with Mohamed Salah and new striker Alexander Isak to form one of Europe’s deadliest front lines. Instead, Slot left him on the bench once again, opting for a safer midfield setup that failed to unlock Burnley’s defense.
By the time Wirtz was introduced, Liverpool had already wasted several opportunities.
Carragher: “Almost Criminal”
Carragher didn’t hold back in his criticism:
> “You’ve got a world-class playmaker sitting on the bench while the team is crying out for someone to break Burnley down. It’s almost criminal. Wirtz should be one of the first names on the team sheet.”
He even suggested Slot risks losing the dressing room if Wirtz continues to be overlooked.
Fans Back Carragher
Supporters online echoed Carragher’s frustration. One fan wrote:
“Bench Wirtz and you bench creativity. We were toothless until he came on. Slot needs to stop overthinking.”
Others accused the manager of being too cautious and holding back Liverpool’s new-look attack.
What Happens Next
With tougher fixtures looming, Slot is under pressure to change his approach. Liverpool can’t afford to keep wasting points while rivals like Man City and Arsenal rack up goals.
As Carragher summed it up:
> “No manager benches a player like Wirtz. Play him—or risk Liverpool’s title challenge slipping away.”
