Jamie Carragher has urged Liverpool forwards Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz to deliver more in front of goal, despite their growing importance to Arne Slot amid injuries and inconsistent form elsewhere in the squad.
Wirtz endured a slow start at Anfield while Ekitike began brightly, but their fortunes have recently shifted, with Wirtz excelling creatively and Ekitike managing only two Premier League goals since mid-December.
Jamie Carragher believes both need to produce a more decisive impact in the final third.
The pair have built a strong on-field understanding, and Liverpool’s struggles in the 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest were partly attributed to Wirtz’s late withdrawal through injury. Fortunately for Liverpool, the issue is not expected to sideline him for long.
He said on Sky Sports: “In the second half of the season, Wirtz has been fantastic. But he still doesn’t have the numbers to back it up. But you still love to watch him play football. There’s no doubt we’re seeing his real quality now. He’s influencing the game.
“At Sunderland, no-one had won there before. He didn’t get the goal or the assist, but if you watch that game, he was the best player on the pitch.
“Wirtz and Ekitike are doing well at the moment. But you feel they would need to go up another level to get Liverpool back in the title race next season.”
Alexis Mac Allister scored the decisive goal, but Carragher was critical of the overall display and the attacking output from key players.
He added: “That’s one of the biggest robberies I’ve seen in the Premier League this season.”
“[Rio] Ngumoha did more in 15 minutes than [Mohamed] Salah and Cody [Gakpo] did before that. He changed the game and needs to be starting games. There’s no-one better in getting last-minute winners in Premier League – and that is Liverpool.”
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Arne Slot pinpoints reason behind Alexis Mac Allister recent improved form