Liverpool’s Big-Money Signings Under Scrutiny After Manchester City Defeat
Liverpool’s 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City has intensified scrutiny of the club’s major recruitment drive, with Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and new arrival Bradley Barcola all still searching for the form expected of nine-figure investments. Ryan Gravenberch’s dismissal left Liverpool with 10 men, while Rayan Cherki capped City’s win with a third goal that underlined the contrast between the two sides’ creative influence.
Key figures from Liverpool’s recruitment and City defeat
| Item | Figure or date | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Florian Wirtz fee | £116m ($154m) | Joined from Bayer Leverkusen in summer 2025 |
| Bradley Barcola fee | £123m ($163m) | Arrived from Paris Saint-Germain, Champions League holders |
| Liverpool v Manchester City | 0-3 | Liverpool’s first competitive defeat under Andoni Iraola this season |
| Next match | Wednesday | LASK in the Champions League |
Wirtz was brought to Anfield after Liverpool had won the Premier League, in a summer that also included expensive moves for Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong. The German midfielder, signed for £116m, has not yet reproduced the authority he displayed for Leverkusen, where he established himself as one of Europe’s leading attacking midfielders.
The concern is heightened by Liverpool’s broader decline. Isak, a British-record acquisition, managed only four goals during the previous campaign, while Wirtz was unable to consistently dictate matches from the No. 10 position. Against City, Cherki’s impact was especially notable. The France international cost City £34m ($45m) and supplied the finishing touch to a convincing away victory at Anfield.
Barcola is also under early pressure after his £123m move from PSG. The 24-year-old has played five times in all competitions without scoring or providing an assist. His price places him among the most expensive players in the squad, bringing immediate expectations despite his short time at the club.
Former Liverpool forward Michael Owen believes the collective downturn has made the club’s costly additions an obvious focus. He said the players signed in the major spending window remain “exceptional” talents, but acknowledged that their fees do not currently look like value as the side struggles for results and performances.
Owen argued that expensive recruits are naturally judged more severely when a team that was successful before their arrival falls away afterwards. He added that Barcola’s valuation creates a demand for elite attacking returns, while conceding that Mohamed Salah’s output sets an exceptionally difficult benchmark for any forward to reach.
On Wirtz, Owen insisted there should be no question over the player’s ability, citing what he has shown in other leagues and for Germany. However, he said Wirtz has underperformed for more than a year in a Liverpool shirt and that the club must find a way to unlock his qualities.
Liverpool can respond quickly when Austrian side LASK visit in the Champions League on Wednesday. Wirtz and Barcola will be among those hoping to establish momentum, particularly with Isak managing a thigh problem. For now, Liverpool’s newest high-cost signings have significant ground to make up before their transfer fees can be considered justified.
