Florian Wirtz has become a concern for Liverpool, with Gary Neville stating that he “looked like a little boy” during the 3-0 loss to Manchester City.
The £100m summer acquisition from Bayer Leverkusen, potentially increasing to £116m, has had a tough time adjusting to the Premier League, yet to score or assist in his first 11 league matches.
Neville expressed impatience with the 22-year-old’s performance after what he deemed “a really bad day” at City, a match that left Liverpool in eighth place.
“Wirtz is a problem,” Neville claimed on the Gary Neville Podcast. He criticized Wirtz’s performance, noting, “He can’t afford to look overwhelmed at this level.” Neville emphasized that, despite Wirtz’s evident talent, he was dominated physically on the pitch.
Neville indicated the urgency for Liverpool to support Wirtz and help him adapt, particularly as he had shown more promise in the Champions League than in domestic matches. Wirtz recently returned to his preferred left-wing position after being experimented with centrally by manager Arne Slot.
Neville expressed serious concerns about Liverpool’s overall performance against City, highlighting that they seemed lost, which might require self-reflection from the team as they have previously set high standards. He noted they need to regain their physicality and composure.
With league leaders Arsenal now eight points ahead and Liverpool struggling in the standings, Neville stressed the importance for Slot to address these issues moving forward, suggesting that a lack of fitness and coordination could be detrimental if not managed properly.
