As Liverpool languishes in fifth, Jamie Carragher slams the club’s record-breaking £446m transfer window. From the struggles of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz to the looming departure of Mohamed Salah.
There is a specific kind of silence that has started to creep into Anfield lately not the respectful hush of anticipation, but the heavy, uneasy quiet of a fanbase trying to reconcile what they were promised with what they are actually seeing.
Last summer was supposed to be the dawn of a new, untouchable era. We watched, as supporters the club shatter it’s own conservative reputation, sanctioned a staggering £446 million spending spree, and brought in the likes of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.
It was the kind of “statement” summer supporters had spent a decade dreaming of. But as we sit here in April 2026, with the title race a distant speck and the Reds languishing in fifth, the dream is beginning to feel like a very expensive fever.
Jamie Carragher has never been one to sugarcoat the truth, even when it tastes bitter for those of us with Liverpool in our blood.
Speaking recently, the legendary defender didn’t just critique the performances but to the entire recruitment strategy of the last twelve months. His verdict? “It hasn’t worked.”
In an interview with the Liverpool Echo, Reds legend Jamie Carragher claims that last summer’s venture in the transfer window hasn’t worked out.
It’s a chilling sentence for a club that prides itself on being the smartest room in the Premier League. For years, Liverpool’s success was built on the “right player for the right reasons” the surgical precision of the Michael Edwards era.
But this season, that precision has been replaced by a scattergun approach that feels more like a London rival than the Anfield we know.
Liverpool spent two record transfer fees last summer on Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, yet neither have fully justified their fees so far
“(The big-spending summer) hasn’t worked, it might work in the future because I don’t think you can judge every signing in the first year.”
He continued.
“But I’ve said this before, my experience as a Liverpool player; every player who came to the club, I can’t remember one who didn’t really do much in the first season and then was a revelation afterwards.”
Carra’s point is hard to argue with when you look at the evidence. We spent north of £240 million on two world-class talents in Isak and Wirtz, yet we’ve spent half the season watching them struggle for fitness or tactical cohesion.
While Wirtz showed flashes of his Leverkusen brilliance over the winter, the consistency just isn’t there. Meanwhile, the decision to bring in both Isak and Hugo Ekitike in the same window two players vying for the same space has left many, Carragher included, scratching their heads. It’s a luxury problem that has resulted in a lack of rhythm at the top of the pitch.
Liverpool’s disappointing signings
Isak has scored just twice in the Premier League so far since moving to Merseyside. Though he’s been out with injuries such as a broken leg, his performances have been far below his value.
While Wirtz has shown glimpses of his quality on the ball, it has been few and far between, and the recent Merseyside derby was a poor showing from the German, who was subbed off when the game was level.
The 48-year-old was quick to single those two out, as they have yet to live up to expectations.
“Isak hasn’t got going, he obviously got the injury, but he didn’t look great to start with, Wirtz has got to do a lot more, an awful lot more when you think of the price that Liverpool paid for him.”
With Hugo Ekitike’s injury, the Swede will likely start the remaining league matches under Arne Slot, and the same goes for Wirtz.
With Champions League football nearly in the bag, they need a promising end to the season to give supporters hope heading into next season, when recent news is already causing alarm bells to ring.
Replacing the King
That news is the departure of Mohamed Salah, who, even in a bad season by his standards, has registered 13 goal contributions in the Premier League.
Carragher acknowledges that a successor is required, but other areas of the first team squad need an urgent fix.
“Well, obviously, they need to replace Salah. I think for me three players need to come straight into the team.”
One of them is in the defence.
“Liverpool need a right-back; they have fudged a few things there, they gave Conor Bradley a chance, he got another injury.”
The current squad under the Dutchman has plenty of talented players, but the supporters are failing to see that week on week out.
It will always be tricky to step into the Egyptian’s shoes, with him being one of the greatest players to ever call Anfield their home.
Salah’s departure marks the end of his era, which signals the beginning of a new one led by Isak and Wirtz, though time is no longer on their side.
