Gary Neville was critical of one Liverpool player who ‘looked like a little boy’ in their 3-0 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday and who, in his view, has become a ‘problem’ for Arne Slot.
The miserable evening at the Etihad Stadium was Florian Wirtz’s 16th appearance for the Reds since joining from Bayer Leverkusen in a £116m deal during the summer, but the playmaker has yet to score for his new club and has registered just three assists in 1,119 minutes on the pitch (Transfermarkt).
The 22-year-old was subjected to derisive chants of ‘What a waste of money’ from the home supporters when he was substituted in the 83rd minute, unable to make an impact in what’s always one of the biggest matches of the season for LFC.
Neville: Wirtz needs to ‘stand up soon’ for Liverpool
Speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast after the match, the Sky Sports pundit believes that Wirtz has now been at Liverpool for long enough to be subjected to genuine scrutiny over his performances, with the ex-Manchester United defender concerned about the German physically.
He said: “Wirtz in particular, it was a really bad day for him. We’ve been tiptoeing around him for a few months, around the fact that he’s young, he’s coming to a new country, but he’s £120m [sic] and you’re gonna have to stand up soon.
“He’s obviously got something, he’s a really good player, he’s technically fantastic, but he’s been mauled out there today by [Matheus] Nunes and by others. He’s been chucked around the pitch, and didn’t deliver on the quality side of things as well, so his performance was a real worry.”
Neville added: “Wirtz is a problem. Let’s just call it as it is. It’s an issue. He’s £120m [sic] and, to be fair, I said a few weeks ago about [Milos] Kerkez that he looks like a little boy out there. Today I thought Wirtz looked like a little boy. That can’t be the case.”
Wirtz isn’t lacking for effort, but his output is becoming a worry
To be fair to Liverpool’s number 7, his performance at the Etihad wasn’t lacking in effort. During the first half in particular, he tried to unpick the Man City defence with his dribbling ability, but his influence faded as the match went on.
It summed up Wirtz’s time with the Reds as a whole so far – plenty of endeavour and a determination to make an impact, but things just aren’t coming off for him, or he’s getting outmuscled by players with greater physical strength.
It’s still way too early to dismiss him as a flop, but having now had a third of a season at Anfield, LFC fans could viably expect a bit more in terms of output from an attacker who’s proven that he can rack up big numbers at a high level in Europe.
Whereas Alexander Isak can be cut some slack due to his fitness issues since joining Liverpool, Wirtz hasn’t had the same excuse given the game-time he’s had already. It’s not a great look that he’s still searching for his first goal of the campaign when a centre-back in Micky van de Ven already has six.
Hopefully when the Premier League champions reconvene after the international break, we’ll see the 22-year-old exert more of an influence in the final third and produce the G/A numbers which’ll answer critics such as Neville.
You can watch Slot’s full post-Man City press conference via Empire of the Kop on YouTube:
Whichever way you Analyse it wirtz is a bad signing. He’s too lightweight for the premier league and doesn’t have the strength physical presence or pace to be a threat in the final third, without the ball he’s a liability just like Salah, and when you play the both of them away from home you are asking for trouble. Bring technically good isn’t enough in the premier league, and we were duped into spending 116 million on a player that Manchester city or Real Madrid never really wanted. You must be honest and say apart from Ekitike who has shown glimpses of talent the rest of the signings have been poor. Edwards and Richard Hughes their jobs must now be under threat after spending 450 million, and letting go Diaz who right now is the best winger in Europe. Every goal that Diaz scores is an embarrassment for this football club and the sporting director and Michael Edwards, their job is to make the correct decisions. They’ve made us weaker not better. We wouldn’t get 30 million if we were to sell wirtz right now. Nobody in the premier league would want him. He was bought with the plan to play in midfield and unlock defences, now he’s been pushed by the manager out wide and even as a false number nine, and he offers nothing in these positions. You must be wondering what FSG are making of all this, the first time they spend big money and the people they trusted have blown it on duds.
Yes, misty you are right again.
Maybe if you post such again and again we might believe you.
RM back with his grooming behaviour pseudonym again ? He has no self control, Ja.
You are weird
Liverpool still to win the premier league then Mr clueless. Five defeats and counting. No worries here Liverpool are doing great, everything is rosy.
You’ve got to laugh. You know neph all about football.
You bet I’m right, or would you rather listen to the clueless like NEPH . The clueless thinks we can still win the premier league. Never played football, totally clueless.
You’re being played, ReM.
You just don’t have the wit to see it.
Leave off the repetitive rants. Everyone I aware of the situation. You aren’t enlightening anyone.
Be positive.
He’s light year’s ahead of the gob on legs Neville
Why did Edwards and Richard Hughes buy wirtz. everything is done by stats, and no doubt wirtz was top of most in Germany. What they didn’t look at is the premier league is far better than the German league. A much higher standard, more physical, more competitive and if you are lightweight you get found out. Let’s be honest if you spend 116 million on an attacking midfielder has wirtz been a success.
The answer is no. Only the clueless will say different. The German manager has now has had his say. Julian neglesmann, blaming Liverpool for wirtz being a flop. I look at this current Germany team and it’s the worst German team I’ve ever seen. No leaders, a lack of world class players, no strength no great midfield plans wirtz is with a bad bunch. Overrated, overpriced and we were duped. This time next season wirtz will be sold for a lot less than we paid for him.
Re. Your post above.
See what we mean, ReM ?
Repeating such in every article isn’t good for your mental health, or the youngsters that may read and be influenced by such.
https://www.uefa.com/nationalassociations/uefarankings/club/?year=2026
Bro, if you think that the Premier League is “way better” than the Bundesliga… If the two leagues fused, you would get such a massive wake-up call. You are CLUELESS.
And just casually forgetting players like Gundogan, Mertesacker, Sane, Hamann, Rudiger, Havertz, Lehmann, Ozil etc. who were all incredible for their Premier League clubs. Shall we start bringing up Premier League players who have flopped in other leagues???
Messi only managed 11 goals in his first season at PSG, ey, waste of money… too physical of a league for the flea -_-