Florian Wirtz headed into the international break with a confidence-boosting goal and assist during Liverpool’s win over Crystal Palace on Sunday, underlining a recent improvement in his form.

The German will now link up with Jurgen Klopp for the German national team, and supporters will hope that their former manager can push Wirtz on once again, sending him back to Liverpool in even better shape.

Carragher had little reason to be critical of Wirtz after he was decisive in Liverpool’s victory on Sunday, but he still managed to get a little dig in there. Asked to comment on the 23-year-old’s goal on Sky Sports after the game, he suggested that Wirtz had got lucky with his slightly mis-hit finish.

X account ‘The Anfield Talk’ disagreed, posting: “Carragher once again doing his best to downplay our own players,” after listening to the former centre-back’s post-match analysis.

Not usually one to back down, Carragher soon hit back, accusing ‘E-reds’ of continually taking his quotes out of context to further their own agendas and drive engagement among online supporters.

“You & a few other E-reds use my quotes to get yourself engagement. Give your own opinions. And don’t just play to the gallery for likes & retweets.”

Asked whether the same would apply to Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer – two opposition players who Carragher has regularly praised – the Scouser again stood by his comments, calling out ‘cranks’ within the Liverpool fanbase who take him to task over his opinions.

“His [Wirtz’s] goal was to lucky as he hit it on to his left with his right,” he said.

“It would apply to them [Rogers and Palmer] yes, but I don’t think they’d have so many cranks bothered about it. If our 100M men do what they’ve done so far for Chelsea we’d be delighted.”

Carragher wasn’t done there, drudging up a midweek post from ‘The Anfield Talk’ suggesting that Giorgi Mamardashvili should be given a chance to start ahead of Alisson Becker against Crystal Palace. Alisson went on to produce a masterclass at Selhurst Park, allowing Carragher to drive his point home.

“Best sticking to using my opinions than using your own,” he commented, shutting down the argument once and for all.