Florian Wirtz has struggled to justify his £116m transfer to Liverpool, prompting criticism from Jamie Carragher and doubts over whether he can become the player the club expected. However, the article argues it is too early to write off the 23-year-old, especially after only six matches this season and signs that his performance against Bournemouth improved after a slow start.

Wirtz has recorded just one assist this season, while Liverpool’s difficult previous campaign increased scrutiny on their expensive new signings. Against Bournemouth, he created three chances, won six of eight duels and regained possession four times, but completed only 26 of 37 passes and lost the ball 15 times. These figures reflect both his involvement in risky creative play and the visible inconsistency that has fuelled criticism.