Gary Neville has identified Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak as Liverpool's biggest disappointments following their performance in the Premier League season opener.

Gary Neville has publicly criticized Liverpool forwards Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, labeling them the team's biggest disappointments. Speaking on his podcast, Neville urged the pair to improve their performance levels following a lackluster display in Sunday's league opener against Newcastle at St James' Park. Despite the criticism, Neville stated he retains faith that both players can eventually succeed at Anfield.

Neville's assessment of performance

Neville described the duo as 'too nice' and lacking the necessary tenacity, specifically noting that Wirtz did not appear to be 'busting a gut' during the match. Wirtz was substituted after one hour for Alexis Mac Allister, while Isak played the full 90 minutes. Neville argued that Wirtz should focus on playing as a second striker rather than drifting too deep, suggesting he needs to improve his combination play with Isak to be more effective in the final third.

Expectations and future outlook

Despite his critique, Neville expressed confidence in the players' abilities, citing their previous form at Newcastle and Bayer Leverkusen. He noted that Isak had previously been a 'devastating' player and that Wirtz is still adjusting to a new country. Neville emphasized that with a year of experience now behind them, the time has come for the pair to justify their significant transfer fees and deliver consistent results for the team.