Jamie Carragher names Liverpool’s ‘biggest problem’ right now as Arne Slot ‘dilemma’ revealed
Liverpool hero Jamie Carragher has revealed what he believes Arne Slot’s main concern should be right now amid his side’s current slump in form.
Liverpool began the 2025-26 campaign where the left off last season, with five wins from as many games in the Premier League and further maiden victories in the Champions League and Carabao Cup.
They were not winning convincingly, however, as Arne Slot‘s side made a habit of netting late goals to win a number of those games, and their inconsistencies have caught up with them over the last week.
Crystal Palace beat Liverpool 2-1 last weekend to hand them their first league defeat of the campaign, and they then suffered a 1-0 loss last time out on Tuesday (30 September) against Galatasaray in the Champions League.
Slot’s team selection against Galatasaray was questioned by former Reds striker Daniel Sturridge, and along similar lines, club legend Jamie Carragher has now picked out what he believes is the Dutch manager’s most pressing issue right now.
Jamie Carragher thinks Florian Wirtz’s arrival has caused Liverpool’s biggest problem
Writing in his column in The Telegraph (3 October), Carragher picked out what he believes is causing Liverpool the most issues right now, saying: “Liverpool’s biggest problem right now is not their back four, although Ibrahima Konaté’s inconsistency is well-documented and the preferred full-backs Milos Kerkez and Conor Bradley are inexperienced.
“Bradley still looks like an academy graduate trying to cope with the demands of playing senior football three times a week...upfield, the introduction of Florian Wirtz into the three-man midfield which was so effective at pinning opponents into their own half last season has fundamentally changed how Liverpool play.
“It means Slot has a dilemma as he tries to defend the title going through a transitional phase that might take longer than many thought. “
Slot certainly does have some clear concerns that he needs to fix as soon as possible, but he will likely continue to stand by Wirtz as the Reds aim to get the best out of their £100million man.
Slot has previously backed Wirtz to impress for Liverpool but he must improve quickly
Wirtz came in for criticism last month as he struggled to make an impact away at Burnley, but Slot rushed to his defence after the game and insisted that he would improve.
He said: “He’s been part of a team, Florian, that is on top of the league and that won four games. He’s part of the team that won against Newcastle, that won against Arsenal, where the team last season didn’t win away at Newcastle and didn’t win at home against Arsenal.
“It’s the way you want to look at it. Yes, he hasn’t scored four goals or 12 assists in the first four games – but for me, that’s down to the quality we faced. He’s part of a team that is number one in the league at the moment.”
The German playmaker has failed to register a goal or an assist in the five games since those comments, and Liverpool fans fumed at Wirtz after his performance against Crystal Palace last week as he again struggled to make an impact.
He needs to improve as soon as possible, or could well face some time out of the starting eleven as the Reds look to get back to winning ways.