Gary Neville has not minced words when it comes to Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, labeling the pair as Liverpool’s "biggest disappointments" after a season in which the club has been "kind to" its £200 million‑plus attacking duo. Despite the harsh assessment, Neville also expressed a belief that both players have the quality to turn things around, provided they raise their standards quickly. The criticism came after the two forwards featured in Liverpool’s opening Premier League match at St James’ Park. Isak, who returned to the venue for the first time since his record‑breaking move to Liverpool last summer, completed the full 90 minutes but did little to influence the game.
Wirtz, on the other hand, was taken off just after the hour mark for Alexis Mac Allister, after a performance that Neville described as underwhelming. Both players arrived at Anfield with high expectations after impressive displays in pre‑season friendlies under new manager Andoni Iraola.
Those games suggested a brighter future, but the optimism vanished on Sunday when Liverpool failed to deliver against Newcastle United. During his appearance on the Gary Neville Podcast, the former Manchester United star 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." Neville went on to single out Wirtz, claiming he lacked the necessary tenacity: "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. Sometimes players have that flow about them, but I want to put a rocket up him because there’s ability there, there’s talent there, the understanding of his position." He summed up his frustration by stating, "The biggest disappointment for me [Sunday] is those two." Nevertheless, Neville also made it clear that he still has faith in the duo’s potential. He reminded listeners that both Wirtz and Isak had been prolific at their previous clubs – Bayer Leverkusen and Newcastle United respectively – and that a year of experience at Anfield could see them rediscover that form.
"I’ve watched them both for 12 months, and I do actually have faith in them," Neville said. "I think Isak’s an exceptional player and we’ve seen it.
I never saw anybody give Gabriel and Saliba or Van Dijk and Konate a tougher time as Isak did when he played at Newcastle in a black and white shirt. I’ve seen him be devastating." Neville emphasized the financial stakes, noting the £125 million spent on Isak and the expectation that he should be delivering at that level. Regarding Wirtz, he urged the 23‑year‑old to adapt quickly to English football: "He’s young and he’s come to a different country – and I’m all for willing him on.
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." The former defender also criticised Wirtz’s positioning, suggesting the German midfielder is too eager to drift away from the striker: "Sometimes I think he moves around too much.
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. When I played football and No 10s sometimes drifted too deep, or too wide, they would get a right rollicking off our manager. 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." Neville argued that Wirtz should focus on acting as a second striker, feeding Isak with quick passes down the flanks rather than trying to orchestrate the build‑up from deep positions.
He warned that in tightly contested matches where opponents sit deep, Wirtz might only receive the ball a handful of times if he does not adjust his role. In pre‑season, Wirtz impressed as a shadow striker, notably in Liverpool’s 3‑2 loss to Monaco, but his contributions have dwindled since the league campaign began. He has been involved in just eight league goals since his nine‑figure transfer from Leverkusen, a figure that falls short of the expectations attached to his price tag. Neville concluded by urging both players to seize the opportunity: "I can see a real player there, but I can’t keep watching this stuff.
He’s been subbed after an hour and they need a goal, but they’re 2‑1 down, so no that’s not right." In summary, Neville’s message to Liverpool’s new signings is clear – the club cannot afford to be lenient any longer. The front two must translate their talent into decisive actions on the pitch, whether by delivering goals, creating chances, or simply showing the hunger that matches their hefty transfer fees.
If they fail to do so, criticism will only intensify, and the pressure from fans, teammates, and the coaching staff will mount. The onus now lies on Isak and Wirtz to prove that they belong among the Premier League’s elite and to justify the massive investment Liverpool has made in them.