‘I want to put a rocket up him!’: Gary Neville hits out at Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, claming £240m Liverpool duo are ‘too nice’ as he warns ‘enough is enough’ after another poor display

Gary Neville has warned Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak to improve and become more tenacious if they are to succeed as Liverpool players.

The pair are the most expensive signings in the club’s history with Wirtz’s £116million price-tag only bettered by Isak’s £125m transfer as a Premier League record signing.

The pair endured underwhelming debut seasons at Liverpool last season as the club finished fifth, relinquishing their Premier League crown to Arsenal.

Both started in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Newcastle United – in what was the Reds’ opening fixture of this campaign.

However, both failed to shine with Wirtz hooked after 63 minutes, while Isak failed to perform against a backdrop of vitriol in his first appearance back at St James’ Park since his acrimonious exit last year.

And reflecting on their output, Neville believes the pair are ‘too nice’ and need a nastier side to their game.

Florian Wirtz (left) and Alexander Isak (right) have come under-fire from Gary Neville

Neville believes both are ‘too nice’ and has warned them they need to improve due to their fees

‘The big thing for Liverpool is they’ve got a quarter-of-a-billion-pound front-two, Isak and Wirtz, and bloody hell we’ve been kind to them,’ the Manchester United legend said on his Gary Neville Podcast.

‘They are going to have to start playing soon or else to be fair they’re going to get a lot of criticism. They’re going to have to start delivering.

‘For a start they’re too nice and if you’re going to be nice, you better be incredible at football.

‘I don’t see a tenacity in Wirtz in particular – Isak maybe a bit more – but in Wirtz I just see a nice player moving around the pitch, not really ever looking like he’s busting a gut to do anything.’

Expanding further about Wirtz, Neville wants the playmaker to sharpen up – insisting he wants to put a ‘rocket up him’ at times due to his languid style on the pitch, adding that he needs to redefine his role to start producing goals and assists.

‘You have players that are more graceful that just flow around the pitch – like [Mesut] Ozil and [Kai] Havertz – but I want to put a rocket up him,’ he continued.

‘There’s ability and talent there and an understanding of his position. Sometimes I think he moves too much and isn’t close enough to his striker. Sometimes I don’t think he understands where the game is going to be won and lost.

‘I don’t see him combining with Isak. So for me, and I’ve said this for 12 months, he drifts too much. I just feel like Wirtz has got to think about being involved in the build-up less, he’s got to think about being a second striker rather than a third midfield player, and has got to think about his output and what he needs to do, which is feed Isak with little passes and down the side of centre backs.

Speaking about Wirtz, Neville said he would like to put a ‘rocket’ up the £116million signing

‘They’ve got to improve. I’m laying it on them now as I’ve watched them for 12 months but I have faith in them. I think Isak is an exceptional player – I never saw anyone give Gabriel and Saliba, or Van Dijk and Konate, a tougher time than he did when he was at Newcastle – so I’ve seen him be devastating.

‘Liverpool’s team-mates and coaches need to see that because it’s £125m, and Wirtz needs to sort himself out. Enough is enough now. He’s young and come into a different country and I can see a real player there, but we can’t keep watching this stuff. He’s been subbed after an hour and they need a goal. That’s not right. The biggest disappointment for me is those two.’

Wirtz and Isak can let their feet do the talking on Saturday when Liverpool host Nottingham Forest in the 12.30pm kick-off.