When you shell out over £200 million on two of the most talented attacking talents in European football, there are moments when patience wears thin.
Sunday afternoon at Anfield was supposed to be the launchpad.
Without Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo sidelined through international injuries, and belatedly lacking Dominik Szoboszlai’s usual driving engine, the stage was set for Bradley Barcola and Florian Wirtz to grab Manchester City by the throat.
Instead, as City walked away with a 3-0 victory following Ryan Gravenberch's controversial second-half red card, Kopites were left with the uncomfortable realisation that our marquee signings simply didn't deliver when the stakes were highest.
It isn't just the supporters in the Kop expressing concern. A chorus of former Liverpool players have weighed in on why our £100m+ men failed to spark and the verdicts are brutally honest.
"Shift and shoot for once" – Sturridge half-time reality check
Andoni Iraola resisted the urge to push Barcola through the middle as a makeshift false nine, choosing instead to start him in his preferred left-wing role while Wirtz operated in the central No. 10 position. The setup was custom-built for them to take control, yet neither managed to test Gianluigi Donnarumma in any meaningful way.
Speaking on Sky Sports, former Reds forward Daniel Sturridge pointed out how Barcola was pinned back, while calling on Wirtz to show far more self-belief:
"Barcola seems to have almost been defending the whole half, and we’ve not really seen him get on and play with freedom,"
"And Wirtz, I want to see him shift and shoot for once, have that self belief. When I watch him it looks like he’s got no self confidence. I want to watch him jink and let one fly and if you miss, no problem. I feel like he’s trying to play the right pass every single time. I think he needs to be slightly selfish in that position and let one fly."
Jermaine Pennant's Social Media Warning: "Seeing a Darwin Nunez Developing Here"
While Sturridge analysed the tactical nuances, former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant pulled no punches on social media. Taking to X (formerly Twitter) after the final whistle, Pennant sounded the alarm over Wirtz's prolonged adjustment period in a Liverpool shirt:
"Wirtz is making it harder and harder for you die hards to defend him, just saying….. yes he’s better football than me, great is that your come back 🤦🏽♂️. Great player when he is on it and a joy to watch. Like I’ve been saying we need more it’s simple has that, I’m seeing a Darwin Nunez developing here!! Lord of almighty I hope I’m wrong and all trolls are @ me I’d be happy it would make me very happy!!!!"
What It means for Kopites and Iraola going forward
For those of us watching from the stands, the contrast between our high-priced signings and our emerging academy talents was stark. Youngsters Lewis Koumas and Víctor Muñoz worked their socks off and looked far sharper in attacking phases than the men brought in for eye-watering sums.
Barcola can perhaps be granted time. He arrived late, missed a full pre-season, and is making the leap from Ligue 1 into Iraola's frantic high-pressing system.
But for Wirtz, the honeymoon period is rapidly drawing to a close. As Sturridge rightly pointed out, a Liverpool No. 10 cannot overthink every single pass sometimes you simply have to drop the shoulder, shoot, and force the issue.
With Gravenberch now suspended for the trip to Brentford, Iraola needs his £100m+ stars to stop playing fringe players and start behaving like the world-class game-changers we paid for.
Add us as a preferred source on Google