'Need much more' - Release-clause bargain outshining Liverpool's £240m superstar signings

'Need much more' - Release-clause bargain outshining Liverpool's £240m superstar signings Liverpool succumbed to a heavy 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday. Following a tight and even 60-odd minutes the game turned on a harsh second yellow card for Ryan Gravenberch. Beyond that point City took control - scoring goals through Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki. Liverpool weakened by injuries Andoni Iraola is licking his wounds following his first Liverpool defeat as head coach. The Merseysiders quite simply couldn’t hang with a City side boasting full numbers - and the Reds were further weakened by injuries. None of Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo or Alexander Isak was available - leaving Iraola short on quality and goalscoring. Lewis Koumas tried his best but he doesn’t yet have the No9 qualities of Isak and Gakpo. We can let that one slide - given Hugo Ekitike is also out injured - but elsewhere grave questions have to be asked over two players in particular. Liverpool need more from Wirtz and Barcola Liverpool spent a lot of money on Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola . Wirtz cost £116m in summer 2025 from Bayer Leverkusen but has flattered to deceive over the last year or so. Barcola was even more at £123m when signing from Paris Saint-Germain just a few weeks ago. He - like Wirtz - is waiting for his first goal of the season and never looked threatening at Anfield on Sunday. That is a worrying sign; neither is a bolt-on signing for Iraola. Wirtz and Barcola are supposed to be centrepieces. These two players - and certain others - are supposed to lead Liverpool into a new era. On the evidence presented thus far they have a long way to go. Victor Munoz can hold his head up high Instead it was left to Victor Munoz to take the game to City in Liverpool’s attack. The Spanish FIFA World Cup winner competed gamely, closing down opponents, covering the ground and committing to every duel. His attitude is exemplary - and he is very quickly becoming undroppable for the Basque tactico who fought to get him. “Munoz has been very good but Liverpool need much more from Wirtz and Barcola,” The Athletic’s James Pearce wrote on X . Munoz - a £34m bargain from Osasuna when his release clause was triggered over the summer - is not regaerded as one of Liverpool’s big guns. When everyone is fit the Anfield side will be playing a £400m front three in Wirtz, Isak and Barcola. Those superstars have flattered to deceive - albeit Isak is beginning to come good. The others need to take a leaf out of Munoz’s book - the release-clause weapon who is outshining Liverpool’s nine-figure superstars.