Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville slammed Liverpool’s two big-money signings, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, following the Reds’ 2-2 draw with Newcastle on Sunday.
Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast on YouTube, the former Manchester United fullback was critical of the pair, stating their grace period for criticism has expired.
“The big thing for Liverpool is they've got this quarter-of-a-billion-pound front two,” he said. “Isak and Wirtz - bloody hell, we've been kind to them.
“We have been kind to those two. They're going to have to start playing sooner or later, or else, to be fair, they're going to get quite a lot of criticism. They're going to have to start delivering. I think they’re too nice, you know, and if you're going to be nice, you better be incredible at football.”
Wirtz is yet to set the world alight since his £116 million move from Bayer Leverkusen last summer. Recording seven goals and eight assists in all competitions last season, he is yet to show Liverpool fans the form he displayed in Germany, where he accumulated 108 goal contributions (goals and assists) across five full seasons with the former Bundesliga champions.
There is no doubt of his obvious talent; his technique alone is a testament to his potential. However, frustration in the German not realising that potential is growing, particularly for Neville.
“I don't see the tenacity in Wirtz, in particular,” he said. “I just see a nice player moving around the pitch, not really ever looking like he's busting a gut to do anything.
“Now, that can happen because sometimes, like a Mesut Özil, you see players that are more graceful and sort of just flow with the game a little bit. Havertz is a bit like that at Arsenal.
“But I want to put a rocket up him because there's ability, there's talent there.”
With a new manager in Andoni Iraola, there is hope that this season offers a fresh start for the creative midfielder. Yet, after another lacklustre performance against the Magpies, Neville’s patience is running thin.
“Enough is enough now,” he said. “We've talked about him enough, and he's young and he's coming into a different country and I'm all for willing him [to do well] because, actually, I can see a real player there, but we can't keep watching this stuff.
“He's been subbed after an hour and they need a goal, and they're 2-1 down. So, no, that's not right.”
Meanwhile, Isak’s first season at Liverpool was curtailed after he suffered a broken ankle and fractured fibula while scoring against Tottenham. As a result, he only managed the three goals in the league last term. Though, even before the injury, Isak struggled for form, not scoring his first league goal for the club until November in a 2-0 victory over West Ham United.
Now fully fit, Neville hopes he can return to the level that saw him signed by the Reds for £125 million.
“Actually, I've got faith in him. I think Isak’s an exceptional player and we've seen it. I never saw anybody give Gabriel and Saliba or Van Dijk and Konaté as tough a time as Isak did when he played at Newcastle in a black and white shirt. So I've seen him be devastating.
Now Liverpool fans and Liverpool's teammates and Liverpool's coaching staff, they need to see that because that's 125 million quid.”
It is becoming increasingly difficult to defend both of the pair, especially after a full season to acclimatise to the Premier League in Wirtz’s case. And, if performances like the one against Newcastle persist, criticism of the pair will continue to mount.
This will be of concern to Iraola, who will be hoping to mould Wirtz the same way he did with Eli Junior Kroupi at his former club, Bournemouth. There is a long list of signings from the Bundesliga who have flattered to deceive – Timo Werner, Christopher Nkunku, Joshua Zirkzee, etc. Liverpool will be hoping Wirtz is not the next.
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