Liverpool duo Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak are "too nice" and must start living up to their price tags after getting a "free ride" last season.

That is the view of former Manchester United defender Gary Neville, who said the duo's performances were the biggest disappointment to emerge from Liverpool's season-opening draw with Newcastle United.

Dominik Szoboszlai's penalty rescued a 2-2 draw for the Reds nine minutes into second-half stoppage time on Sunday, as they narrowly avoided defeat in Andoni Iraola's first Premier League game at the helm.

Despite Liverpool needing a goal after Joe Willock put Newcastle 2-1 up in the 57th minute, Iraola withdrew Wirtz just after the hour, in favour of Alexis Mac Allister.

Wirtz has struggled to live up to the billing since joining Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen for £116m last year, while Isak – a £125m signing from Newcastle – toiled on his first reunion with the Magpies, amid a frosty reception from his former fans.

Only Cody Gakpo (six) had more shots for Liverpool than Isak's four, while the Swede contributed 1.09 to the Reds' figure of 2.98 expected goals (xG) and had two Opta-defined 'big chances', but he failed to make them count.

Wirtz created one chance for a team-mate during his 63 minutes on the field, but no Liverpool starter contested fewer duels than the German's four. 

And Neville believes neither player has shown the kind of attitude that is required to be a success at one of the Premier League's biggest clubs.

"The big thing for Liverpool is they've got this quarter-of-a-billion-pound front two, Isak and Wirtz, and we've been kind to them," he said on the Gary Neville podcast for Sky Sports.

"They're going to have to start playing sooner or later, or else they're going to get quite a lot of criticism. 

"For a start, they're too nice, and if you're going to be nice, you'd better be incredible at football.

"I don't see the tenacity in Wirtz, in particular. I just see a nice player moving around the pitch, not really ever looking like he's busting a gut to do anything.

"Sometimes players just have that flow about them, but I want to put a rocket up him, because there's ability there, there's talent there, the understanding of his position. The biggest disappointments, for me, were those two."

Throughout 49 appearances in his debut campaign at Liverpool, Wirtz averaged 9.77 duels contested per 90 minutes but only won 3.96 of those. 

Among 16 outfielders to appear at least 30 times for the Reds in 2025-26, only Andy Robertson (2.16), Mohamed Salah (2.89), Joe Gomez (3.57) and Szoboszlai (3.74) averaged fewer duels won per 90.

Isak, meanwhile, was limited to 22 appearances and four goals last term, having suffered a leg fracture just before Christmas.

But Neville feels there will be no excuses for either player if their lacklustre showings continue. 

"I've watched them both for 12 months, and I do actually have faith in them. I think Isak's an exceptional player and we've seen it," Neville added. 

"I never saw anybody give Gabriel [Magalhaes] and [William] Saliba, or Virgil van Dijk, a tougher time than Isak did when he played at Newcastle in a black and white shirt. I've seen him be devastating.

"Now Liverpool fans and his team-mates and coaching staff, they need to see that – because that's £125m they've spent on him.

"And then Wirtz, he needs to sort himself out. Enough is enough now, we've talked about him enough. He's young and he's come to a different country – and I'm willing him on.

"They have both had a bit of a free ride."