Gary Neville Critiques Liverpool's £200m Duo After St James’ Park Draw
Gary Neville did not bother with pleasantries. Reflecting on Liverpool’s 2-2 opening-weekend draw at St James’ Park on his podcast, the former Manchester United defender went straight for the club’s most expensive assets: Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz.
Both started in a front two that cost close to a quarter of a billion pounds. Neither, in Neville’s eyes, left any kind of mark.
“We’ve been kind to them”
Isak lasted the full 90 minutes in Newcastle, Wirtz made way on the hour for Alexis Mac Allister as Andoni Iraola watched his side labour through long spells of the game. For Neville, the patience around the pair has already stretched far enough.
“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,” he said, underlining the frustration that such a lavishly assembled attack could look so blunt.
The anger is rooted in expectation. Both forwards arrived last summer for huge fees and were billed as the players to drag Liverpool into a new attacking era. Neville’s verdict: the edge just is not there.
“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,” he warned. “For a start, they're too nice, and if you're going to be nice, you'd better be incredible at football.”
Wirtz singled out for lacking bite
If his criticism of the pair was sharp, his focus on Wirtz was even more pointed. Neville accused the German of drifting through the contest without the intensity required at this level.
“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. The biggest disappointment for me [Sunday] is those two.”
In a game that swung and opened up, Liverpool needed their headline forwards to seize it. Neville’s view was that both watched it instead.
Faith in Isak’s talent – but time is ticking
This was not a complete write-off. Neville made clear he still believes in their ability, especially Isak’s. The Sweden international battled injuries last season yet still showed flashes of the devastating form that persuaded Liverpool to spend £125m on him.
“I've watched them both for 12 months, and I do actually have faith in them,” Neville explained. “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.
“Now Liverpool fans and his team-mates and coaching staff, they need to see that – because that's £125m they've spent on him.”
That is the crux. The talent is not in question. The output is.
Iraola demands a reaction
There is no soft landing for this Liverpool side. Nottingham Forest arrive next Saturday, and with them another test of whether this new-look attack can click under Iraola.
The head coach will expect an immediate response. Wirtz must sharpen his movement and positioning to link more effectively in the final third. Isak has to rediscover the ruthless streak that once terrorised Premier League centre-backs.
The fees paid for them guarantee one thing: the spotlight will not dim. It will only get harsher until Liverpool’s £200m front line starts looking like one.
