I really wanted this to be the afternoon when Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola stepped up.
Manchester City at Anfield. The atmosphere was electric, Liverpool started with plenty of energy, and there was a real opportunity for our big-money attacking signings to make a statement.
Instead, Liverpool lost 3-0, and I was left asking the same question again.
When are we going to see the best of Wirtz and Barcola in a Liverpool shirt?
I’m not writing either player off. Far from it. There is too much ability there for that, and I still believe Liverpool can get much more from both of them.
But we cannot keep pretending everything is fine when the performances aren’t good enough.
Wirtz needs to start influencing games
I feel particularly frustrated with Wirtz because we know what he can do.
We saw it during the international break when he scored a brilliant goal for Germany against Serbia. He reminded everyone of the talent that made Liverpool spend so heavily to bring him to Anfield.
But that is precisely why his Liverpool performances are becoming difficult to defend.
Against City, Wirtz had moments when he got involved, but he never really took control of the game. He struggled to impose himself physically and was substituted in the second half, shortly after Ryan Gravenberch was sent off.
That dismissal changed the contest, and Liverpool were always going to find life difficult with ten men. I’m not ignoring that.
However, Wirtz had been given an opportunity to influence a huge match before the red card, and I wanted to see more from him.
I want him demanding the ball, taking responsibility and making things happen.
He doesn’t need to score every week. I’ve said that before, and I still believe it. There is more to his game than goals and assists.
But there has to be a point where the clever touches and promising positions turn into something decisive.
At the moment, we’re still waiting for that to happen consistently.
Barcola isn’t giving Liverpool enough either
Barcola’s situation is slightly different because he’s still adapting to English football, and I’m prepared to give him time.
But against City, I was disappointed with him too.
He had opportunities to make things happen, yet too often Liverpool’s attacks broke down before he could produce anything meaningful. He struggled to make the difference in the final third, and he never really looked like being the player who could turn the game in Liverpool’s favour.
That is a concern when you’re talking about a player Liverpool have invested so heavily in.
Barcola has pace, directness and the ability to trouble defenders. Those qualities are exactly why I was excited about his arrival.
I want to see him running at full-backs, attacking space and making defenders uncomfortable. I don’t want him becoming another player who receives the ball, takes a touch and allows the opposition to get organised.
There is a dangerous winger in there. We just haven’t seen enough of him in a Liverpool shirt yet.
And with Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak unavailable against City, Liverpool needed more from the attacking players who were fit.
Liverpool can’t blame everything on injuries
Of course, we have to acknowledge the circumstances.
Liverpool were without Isak and Gakpo, while Dominik Szoboszlai also missed the game with a hamstring complaint. Those are significant absences, particularly against a side as strong as City.
Liverpool also started brightly and created opportunities before Gravenberch’s dismissal changed the match.
City then took advantage, with Erling Haaland, Jérémy Doku and Rayan Cherki scoring in the second half.
I’m not suggesting Wirtz and Barcola were solely responsible for the defeat.
That would be unfair.
But injuries cannot become the explanation every time Liverpool’s expensive attacking players fail to deliver. These are players who were brought in to make a difference in precisely these kinds of matches.
When key players are missing, the others have to step up.
And on Sunday, I don’t think Wirtz and Barcola did enough.
I’m still backing them – but patience has limits
I know some supporters will already be losing patience with Wirtz, while others will argue Barcola needs more time.
I can understand both sides.
Personally, I’m not ready to give up on either player. Wirtz is adapting to a new environment, and Barcola is learning what it takes to succeed in the Premier League. A difficult afternoon against City doesn’t suddenly make them bad footballers.
But patience doesn’t mean we cannot criticise them.
Liverpool need their attacking players to develop an understanding, to take risks and to start producing more consistent performances. We need to see Wirtz becoming the creative influence we expected and Barcola turning his pace and ability into a genuine threat.
Andoni Iraola has work to do, too. He needs to find the right roles for them and build an attack that allows their qualities to complement each other.
That cannot happen overnight, but there must be progress.
The next few weeks matter
The defeat to City hurts, especially at Anfield, but Liverpool cannot allow it to define their season.
The important thing now is how they respond.
Wirtz needs to show that he can influence games against top opposition. Barcola needs to become more decisive. And when Isak, Gakpo and Szoboszlai return, Liverpool need to look like a team capable of creating chances and putting opponents under sustained pressure.
I still believe both signings can become important players for Liverpool.
But belief has to be matched by performances.
I’m not asking Wirtz and Barcola to win every game on their own. I’m asking them to start showing us why Liverpool spent so much money to bring them here.
After another disappointing afternoon, that’s not an unreasonable expectation.
I want them to succeed. I want to see Wirtz lighting up Anfield and Barcola terrorising defenders.
But right now, we’re still waiting.
And Liverpool cannot afford to wait forever.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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