Expectations were low at Anfield at the beginning of last season when Arne Slot took over as new manager from the outgoing Jurgen Klopp. At a high-profile club like Liverpool, there’s always a bit of time that players take to get used to a new coach. However, the Dutch gaffer slotted in pretty seamlessly and took the Reds to the league title in his very first season at the club.
Liverpool comfortably finished 10 points ahead of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal and 13 ahead of Pep Guardiola’s Man City, wrapping up the title in April with practically a whole month to spare. They were also in excellent form in Europe, topping the league phase of the new Champions League, but fell to eventual winners PSG on penalties in the knockout stages.
Slot is however showing no indications of resting on his laurels and has moved quickly in the transfer market. It’s only early July, but the Reds have already made some very high-profile signings for next season.
Kerkez and Frimpong
With Andy Robertson getting on in age and Trent Alexander-Arnold moving to Real Madrid, Liverpool were in need of quick, pacy wingbacks and have landed two fine youngsters in the form of Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong.
Despite being just 21, Kerkez appeared in all of Bournemouth’s league games last season and was a key figure for the Cherries at left back. His potential combination with Cody Gakpo on the left wing is a mouth-watering one for LFC fans.
The 24-year-old Frimpong was a similarly influential player for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, but on the right flank. There is also a strong Dutch core currently at Liverpool- skipper Virgil van Dijk, midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, winger Gakpo and manager Slot, so Frimpong should fit right in at Anfield.
Florian Wirtz
If you had asked Liverpool fans two years whether they’d be able to beat both Man City & Bayern to Wirtz’s signature, they would’ve dismissed it as a dream. And yet, here we are, with the Reds splashing £100m for the 22-year-old’s signature.
Wirtz is regarded as one of the best attacking midfielders in the world- a Kevin de Bruyne regen in the words of those whom have seen him play in Germany, and he might just be the key to the Reds dominating both domestically and in Europe.
In promising keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, the Reds have also signed a long-term replacement for the outstanding Alisson Becker. There are reportedly more new arrivals in the pipeline, potentially at striker and CB, and it therefore comes as no surprise that 7bet have the Reds as favourites to defend their league crown next season.
Isak/Ekitike/Mateta
Liverpool scored a whopping 86 goals in the league last season- more than any other team, but Darwin Nunez only scored 5 of them. The Uruguayan has been a bit of a disappointment since his switch from Benfica and hasn’t lived up to expectations.
If Nunez moves on, as is widely expected, and with the untimely passing of Diogo Jota, the Reds will definitely be in the market for a new marksman. Alexander Isak would be their first choice, but it’s unlikely that Newcastle would sell the Swedish forward to a direct rival.
Jean-Philippe Mateta is another option, and Liverpool are also reportedly interested in his team-mate Marc Guehi, which could mean a double swoop on Palace from the Reds.
Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko are the other names being taken currently, while Viktor Gyokeres seems set to move to Arsenal.
A top class 9 and another CB (given Konate and Gomez’s injury history), would make this an excellent transfer window for the Reds.
First five fixtures
The fixture list for next season has already been released, and there are some challenging tests for Arne Slot’s side at the beginning of the campaign.
The season starts with a home fixture against Bournemouth, but the next two games are against Newcastle and Arsenal, both formidable opponents and fellow top-four aspirants. September begins with a trip to Burnley, followed by a home fixture against fierce Merseyside rivals Everton.