Wirtz and a worst-ever transfer window? Carra's damning Liverpool verdict

Liverpool drew their opening Premier League fixture 2-2 at Newcastle on Sunday but Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher explained on Monday Night Football why the Reds' midfield set-up - and lack of impact from Florian Wirtz - is a big problem for new boss Andoni Iraola.

Jamie Carragher says he doesn't see where Florian Wirtz fits into the Liverpool team - and the £116.5m German could be part of the worst transfer window in Premier League history.

During a damning assessment of the Reds' midfield set-up in their 2-2 draw at Newcastle, Carragher also explained the big weakness in new boss Andoni Iraola's tactical approach at Liverpool and why it will prevent them from launching a Premier League title challenge this season.

Here's how the Sky Sports pundit broke down Liverpool's big issues on Monday Night Football...

"I don't believe that midfield can function with the personnel in there," said Carragher. "For me, it doesn't work. And it's not just about personnel, it's the structure the manager is asking."

Liverpool fielded Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai in midfield at St James' Park, with Florian Wirtz at No 10.

However, rather than sitting in a double pivot, Szoboszlai often moved forward into more attacking areas.

Carragher noted how Man City have had success in the past with a double-pivot and No 10 set-up but added: "Why did [Pep] Guardiola always bring his full-backs inside? Because the holding midfield player needed help to stop counter-attacks. Straight away that's a problem for me [with Liverpool].

Carragher showed examples of not only Szoboszlai but also Gravenberch charging forwards to join Wirtz and emptying the midfield - providing space for Newcastle to counter-attack into.

"All they think about is going forwards. All three of them. And that's why it can't work," said Carragher.

"I don't think I've ever seen a more offensive team, or players who think offensively in the Premier League than that. There's only the two centre-backs who don't think about going forward."

Carragher also noted how it appears to be an instruction from Iraola for Wirtz and Szoboszlai to 'lock on' to opposition midfielders.

However, while Brentford had success employing a similarly aggressive tactic against Tottenham because their centre-backs stepped up to close the space behind, Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk didn't make the same move. Instead, the 35-year-old centre-back sat deeper.

"You've got a situation, like at Man Utd under Erik ten Hag a few years ago - a team who want to press high but with a deep block.