“He Needs Work” – Gary Neville Sends Advice to New Liverpool Summer Signing

Liverpool maintained their perfect start to the Premier League season with a narrow 1-0 victory over Arsenal at Anfield, yet much of the discussion afterwards centred not on the result but on the performance of Florian Wirtz. Signed from Bayer Leverkusen for £116 million, the German international has now started all three of Liverpool’s league wins under Arne Slot, but Gary Neville believes there is more to come from him.

Speaking on his podcast after the game, Neville offered a detailed breakdown of Wirtz’s positioning against Arsenal.

“The boy, Wirtz, we will talk about him maybe,” Neville said. “He looks like he’s just finding his feet still and, you know, how he can do that, you know, we’ll find out. He’s played in two difficult games against Arsenal and Newcastle.

“And I’m thinking, sometimes you hear expressions, don’t you, by coaches, and sometimes you say, he’s always on the move. And I’m watching Wirtz, he’s always on the move. And I’m thinking, stand still for a second.

“I’m thinking, stand still. I’m watching him there sort of like drift between the lines.

“I’m thinking, he’s probably moving a bit too quick. Because I always think sometimes when you’re playing in the pocket and in the hole, and I used to see it from a different side. I used to see it from being a defender, and there might be a player that you can see just drifting in the pocket.

“So there’s two things, one, I think he’s jogging across the line, and he can’t then really fool or kid people when he gets on the ball, so that’s just a little bit of smartness and intelligence. And then the other thing is, I think just the element of being higher up the pitch by five or six, seven yards, and not going too deep, that means that the midfield players for the opposition can pick you up easily and just shield in front. I almost feel like the centre backs want to come in to get you, rather than actually be the central midfield players are marking you.

“For me, I just think he may be a little bit predictable this moment in time, maybe a little bit deep, but it’s very early in his Liverpool career. I think there will be Liverpool fans, there will be 50, 60,000 in here today, and there will be Liverpool coaches thinking, okay, he needs a bit of coaching.

“He’s not the finished article at £115 million. He’s a young lad, he needs work, he needs coaching, he needs something and he’s got the right man there in Arne Slot.”

Wirtz is far from anonymous in red. He delivered an assist on his debut in the Community Shield against Crystal Palace and has been trusted by Slot to start against Bournemouth, Newcastle United and Arsenal. His industry and intelligence are evident, even if the rhythm of English football still requires some adjustment.

The Premier League is notoriously more intense than the Bundesliga and it is no surprise that adaptation takes time. Wirtz has shown flashes of creativity but has yet to register a goal contribution in league play. Supporters, however, have every reason to be patient.

Liverpool’s manager, who guided the club to the Premier League title in his debut campaign, has already demonstrated his ability to shape players to fit his system. Wirtz’s movement and positional play will be honed with time and repetition on the training ground. Neville’s observations may have carried a critical tone, yet they underline how highly regarded Wirtz is, both in terms of his potential and the scrutiny that comes with such a transfer fee.

Liverpool fans have been quick to embrace their new No. 7, and with international duty ahead for Germany against Slovakia and Northern Ireland, his fitness looks intact. Slot and his staff will be confident that once the adjustment period is over, Wirtz can provide the spark that persuaded Liverpool to break their transfer record.

For now, patience and coaching are the key words, and if history is any guide, Liverpool have a manager capable of delivering both.