Gary Neville has criticised Liverpool forwards Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak after their 2-2 draw at Newcastle United to open the Premier League season, telling Wirtz to 'sort himself out' to justify the fees Liverpool paid for the pair a year ago.
Neville's Verdict on Liverpool's Attack
Speaking on his Gary Neville Podcast, the former Manchester United defender said: "The big thing for Liverpool is they've got this quarter-of-a-billion-pound front two, Isak and Wirtz and bloody hell, we've been kind to them."
"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. For a start, they're too nice, and if you're going to be nice, you'd better be incredible at football."
Wirtz and Isak's Performance
Both forwards started in the draw but struggled to make an impact. Wirtz was substituted by Andoni Iraola after the hour mark, while Isak, returning to his former club, had a chance to equalise from the penalty spot in stoppage time, but Dominik Szoboszlai stepped up to take it instead, silencing the home crowd.
Neville added: "I don't see the tenacity in Wirtz in particular. I just see a nice player moving around the pitch, not really ever looking like he's busting a gut to do anything."
Call for Improvement
"Now, that can happen. Sometimes players have that flow about them, but I want to put a rocket up him. I want to put a rocket up him because there's ability there, there's talent there, the understanding of his position."
Neville acknowledged the players' potential, saying: "I've watched them both for 12 months, and I do actually have faith in them. I think Isak's an exceptional player and we've seen it. I never saw anybody give Gabriel [Magalhaes] and [William] Saliba or [Virgil] Van Dijk and [Ibrahima] Konate a tougher time as Isak did when he played at Newcastle in a black and white shirt."
He continued: "I've seen him be devastating. Now Liverpool fans and his team-mates and coaching staff, they need to see that - because that's £125m they've spent on him."
"And then Wirtz, he needs to sort himself out. Enough's enough now, we've talked about him enough. He's young and he's come to a different country - and I'm all for willing him on."
Both players endured challenging debut seasons at Liverpool, who sacked Arne Slot in May and brought in Iraola, the former Bournemouth manager, to unlock their potential. Neville noted: "They have both had a bit of a free ride. Obviously Isak was injured last season but Arne Slot loses his job, and Wirtz has played like that, so let's be clear, this has got me to start some real focus now."
He concluded: "I can see a real player there, but can't keep watching this stuff, and he's been subbed after an hour, and they need a goal, but they're 2-1 down, so no, that's not right."
