Liverpool's Wirtz and Isak Labelled as Biggest Disappointments by Gary Neville

Liverpool F.C. Manager Andoni Iraola's transfer targets Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz have been labelled as the club's biggest disappointments by Gary Neville, but he retains faith in their abilities.

Gary Neville labelled Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz as Liverpool's two biggest disappointments in their opening-weekend draw at Newcastle, but has faith both can come good in the remainder of the season. Isak played the entire 90 minutes on his first return to St James' Park since becoming the Premier League's most expensive player last summer, though offered little more than Wirtz who was substituted just after the hour mark for Alexis Mac Allister.

Why It Matters for Liverpool F.C.

Both Isak and Wirtz had offered hope in pre-season of better times to come after encouraging performances in Liverpool's friendlies under new boss Andoni Iraola, but neither could transfer that optimism into Sunday's league opener at St James' Park. Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast, Neville 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."

Neville called on Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak to improve after a year of "being kind" to Liverpool's £200m+ duo, but said he had faith the pair would come good despite being their "biggest disappointments" at Newcastle. Wirtz had impressed as a shadow striker in pre-season, particularly in Liverpool's eventual 3-2 defeat to Monaco a fortnight before their league opener. But having played further away from Isak at St James Park, the 23-year-old was urged to return to that role by Neville to have a greater impact on games for the rest of the season, having contributed just eight league goal involvements since his nine-figure move from Leverkusen a year ago.

Neville said: "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. 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 said: "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 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."

Recent Form

Liverpool F.C. Are currently 25 points behind leaders Arsenal in the Premier League title race, with a recent form of 0W-3D-2L (DDLLD) in their last five games. The Reds have scored 63 goals and conceded 53 so far this season, with a goal difference of +10.

League Standing

Liverpool F.C. Finished 5th in the Premier League last season, with 60 points from 38 games, and a recent form of DLDLW.

Image Prompt

A photorealistic image of a 23-year-old, tall, athletic, and lean player with a strong jawline and a determined look on his face, wearing a Liverpool F.C. Jersey in a deep, rich blue colour with a smooth, unbroken fabric, and a white pair of football boots, with a 85mm f/1.4 lens, shallow depth of field, and a floodlight rim light.