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‘Iraola left well short’ – Gary Neville calls Liverpool winger transfer plan ‘bizarre’
31 Aug 2026 04:10 CDT |
4 min read
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Gary Neville has criticised Liverpool’s “bizarre” transfer policy, questioning why the Anfield club are still chasing wingers after securing a deal for Bradley Barcola and not looking to strengthen clear areas of weakness in Andoni Iraola’s squad.
The Reds have made a sluggish start to the Premier League season, securing a couple of 2-2 draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, raising early questions over the club’s transfer policy in the process.
While the 2024/25 champions are still active in the window, Neville is puzzled as to why they appear to be prioritising more attacking players over full-backs, particularly given they appear to be ready to offload in-form Cody Gakpo.
Current ETV
Cody Gakpo
F, M (L)
Liverpool
Cody Gakpo
F, M (L)
Liverpool
ETV Range
€50.4M - €61.6M
“It's bizarre, the noise that Gakpo might leave. He looks like their best forward, he's a real danger,” he told The Gary Neville Podcast.
“Someone like him can maybe not be appreciated at times. I never underestimate a player who does a lot of scruffy things, but he always keeps coming back, he always wants the ball, he's always there, he's always near something, and he does contribute with goals and assists.”
‘He got no defensive instinct’
Neville has major fears over Liverpool’s defence, which has already conceded four goals this season.
“What's the most bizarre is that they haven't signed a left-back and right-back, unless they're going to go to three at the back with the three big centre-backs that they've got,” he added.
“If they're going to play a back four, and Kerkez and Frimpong are going to play full-backs, and they're not going to sign a holding midfield player, Liverpool are going to concede a lot of goals.
“The two goals on Saturday, the right-back's nowhere to be seen on the first one and on the second one, he lets the runner go from the throw-in when he should just mark him and run, go with him all the way. He's not got a natural instinct to know how to defend.
“We used to criticise Trent Alexander-Arnold for his defensive work but he is a lot better as a defender than Frimpong and he used to contribute 15 to 20 assists a season and I don't think Frimpong will.”
Iraola left ‘well short’: Liverpool need three signings before transfer deadline
The former England and Manchester United right-back says that Iraola has been left “well short” in terms of the squad he’s been left with.
“If I was him, I would be going in there and demanding something in the next 48 hours because it will cost him.
“If Liverpool added a defensive midfield player, a really good one, and two good full-backs, they would have a really good chance.
“But they're being undermined by a lack of recruitment in those full-back areas, and in central midfield, they need to do something.”
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