Jamie Carragher has quietly but firmly walked back his early doubts about Florian Wirtz, and this time there’s no hedging.
The former Liverpool defender now says the German midfielder is a “special player,” a sharp turn from the scepticism he aired just a few months ago when Wirtz was still finding his feet at Anfield.
A Price Tag, a Slow Start, and a Lot of Noise
When Wirtz arrived in the summer for a hefty £116million, expectations were instant and unforgiving.
Goals, assists, game-changing moments — fans wanted the lot straight away.
Instead, the early weeks were subdued.
By the time December rolled around, he still hadn’t registered a Premier League goal or assist, and the whispers started to grow louder.
Form Turns, Confidence Follows
Fast forward to now and the picture looks very different.
Wirtz has four league goals in his last seven matches and added a Champions League strike against Qarabag last week.
The rhythm is there, the confidence is visible, and suddenly Liverpool’s midfield looks far more dangerous with him pulling the strings.
Why Carragher Wasn’t Convinced at First
Back in October, Carragher wasn’t shy about his concerns.
He pointed to Liverpool’s history with foreign signings who made an instant impact — names like Sami Hyypia, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Luis Suarez and Didi Hamann.
In his view, great players didn’t usually need half a season to warm up.
If it was dragging into Christmas, history suggested something might be wrong.
A Very Different Tune on Sky Sports
On Monday night, speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher’s tone had completely changed.
He talked about Wirtz improving week by week and suggested Liverpool may have gained something close to what they lost when Kevin De Bruyne left the Premier League.
Comparing Wirtz to both De Bruyne and David Silva, Carragher said the German has a blend of elegance and edge — easy on the eye but with real bite to his game.
From “Boy” to Big-Game Player
Carragher even revisited a moment from earlier in the season when Gary Neville said Wirtz looked like a “boy” during a tough outing away at Manchester City.
With City now heading to Anfield, Carragher sees a different player entirely — one full of belief and ready to answer those early jabs on the pitch.
Wirtz Isn’t the Only One Turning Heads
Carragher’s praise didn’t stop there.
He also heaped admiration on Hugo Ekitike, Liverpool’s £79m summer signing from Frankfurt.
With Alexander Isak sidelined, Ekitike has made the No9 shirt his own, scoring 15 goals already this season and forming an eye-catching partnership with Wirtz.
A Newcastle Performance That Said Plenty
Ekitike’s brace in the 4-1 win over Newcastle at the weekend only strengthened Carragher’s argument.
The chemistry between him and Wirtz was obvious, and it’s giving Liverpool a real attacking identity as Arne Slot’s side push for a Champions League spot.
A Bold Torres Comparison Raises Eyebrows
Perhaps the most striking claim was Carragher’s assertion that Ekitike is already a better all-round player than Fernando Torres.
It’s a bold statement, given Torres scored 81 goals in 142 games for Liverpool between 2007 and 2011, but Carragher argued that Torres benefited heavily from Steven Gerrard, while Ekitike offers more independence and versatility.
A Glimpse of Liverpool’s Future Core
For Carragher, this isn’t just about individual praise — it’s about what comes next.
With Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk not getting any younger, Liverpool need a new core to build around.
Players like Wirtz and Ekitike, especially against deep, stubborn defences, offer creativity, movement and hope.
Early Days, But Plenty to Be Excited About
It’s still early in both players’ Liverpool journeys, and Carragher accepts the numbers may not always match past legends.
But if the partnership keeps developing the way it is now, Liverpool fans might look back at those early doubts and smile.
What once felt uncertain is suddenly starting to feel very real.
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