Gary Neville has not minced words when it comes to Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, the two high‑profile signings who arrived at Liverpool with a combined price tag exceeding £200 million. After a year that Neville described as "being kind to" the pair, he warned that the club must see a marked upturn in their performances or face a wave of criticism. Despite labeling them the "biggest disappointments" of the season, Neville also expressed a lingering belief that both players can still fulfil the promise they showed at Newcastle United and Bayer Leverkusen. The criticism was sparked by Liverpool's opening Premier League fixture at St James’ Park, where Isak completed the full 90 minutes on his first return to the ground since his record‑breaking transfer, while Wirtz was withdrawn just after the hour mark for Alexis Mac Allister.
Neither forward managed to translate the optimism they generated during pre‑season friendlies under new manager Andoni Iraola into tangible results on the pitch. The match ended in a 2‑1 defeat, leaving fans and pundits alike questioning the efficacy of the club's massive investment. During an episode of the Gary Neville Podcast, the former Manchester United stalwart laid out his concerns in stark terms: "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." Neville went on to single out Wirtz, saying he "doesn't show the tenacity" he expects from a player of his calibre, describing his movements as "nice" but lacking the intensity required to dominate matches. Neville admitted that talent is evident in both men.
"I want to put a rocket up him," he said of Wirtz, acknowledging the player's technical ability, positional understanding, and raw potential. "There’s ability there, there’s talent there, the understanding of his position." Yet, the former England international stressed that talent alone will not suffice; the duo must convert it into decisive contributions on the field. Despite the harsh assessment, Neville maintained a degree of optimism.
He noted that he has observed both players over the past twelve months and still holds faith in their capacity to adapt and thrive at Anfield. "I think Isak's an exceptional player and we've seen it," Neville asserted, recalling the Swedish striker's performances for Newcastle, where he consistently troubled the defensive units of the likes of Gabriel, Saliba, Van Dijk, and Konaté.
"Now Liverpool fans and his teammates and coaching staff need to see that – because that's £125 million they've spent on him." Regarding Wirtz, Neville acknowledged the challenges of moving to a new country and a different footballing culture. "He's young and he's come to a different country – and I'm all for willing him on," Neville said, but he also warned that the player has been afforded a "free ride" and must now prove his worth. He cited Wirtz's limited impact in the league opener – just eight goal involvements since his nine‑figure move from Bayer Leverkusen – as evidence that more work is required. Neville offered specific tactical advice for Wirtz, urging him to adopt a more defined role as a shadow striker rather than drifting aimlessly across the pitch.
He recalled Wirtz's pre‑season display against Monaco, where the German midfielder excelled in a more advanced position, contributing to Liverpool's 3‑2 loss but showcasing his creative spark. "Sometimes I think he moves around too much," Neville observed.
"Sometimes I don't think he's close enough to his striker, I don't think he understands where the game's going to be won and lost." He emphasized the importance of operating in the final third, stating, "The game's not going to be won out there, the game's not going to be won back there, the game's going to be won in the final third, in and around the box. Combining with your striker, getting crosses in, getting little passes, getting little side passes down the side of the centre‑backs, being close enough to your forward so that you can combine with him. And I don't see him combining with Isak." Neville concluded that Wirtz must prioritize feeding Isak with quick, incisive passes rather than trying to orchestrate the build‑up from deeper positions. He suggested that in tightly contested matches, where opponents sit deep, Wirtz will only receive the ball a handful of times, making it crucial that those moments are maximised to create scoring opportunities.
In summary, Neville's verdict is clear: Liverpool's marquee forwards have underperformed relative to the astronomical fees paid for them, and the club cannot continue to excuse mediocrity. Both Isak and Wirtz possess the technical foundation and footballing intelligence to become world‑class attackers, but they must now translate those attributes into consistent, decisive contributions on the pitch.
The onus lies not only with the players but also with manager Andoni Iraola to fine‑tune their roles, instil the necessary aggression, and ensure that the £200 million investment begins to yield the expected returns. The upcoming fixtures will be a litmus test for whether Liverpool can salvage their season or whether the disappointment will deepen, prompting calls for further changes in the squad.