Despite spending over £440 million last summer, it was not enough to prevent a dismal title defence this season that resulted in the dismissal of Arne Slot.
With the newly appointed Andoni Iraola, we will explore why Liverpool’s summer transfer window will be the most pivotal in almost a decade.
FSG not immune to ruthless sacking culture
Such is the surprising nature of modern football that when news broke last week, the seemingly secure Arne Slot, would depart as head coach of Liverpool Football Club.
While growing discontent among fans led to questions about whether Slot was the right man for Liverpool, sporting director Richard Hughes and owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) were willing to stand by their decision.
Or so we thought, as the callousness otherwise considered an occupational hazard in football management these days, reared its ugly head as the club gave Slot his marching orders.
They now turn their attention to former Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola, as he aims to get the best out of a tired-looking Liverpool side in need of a major reset.
That starts with the transfer window.
Unleashing big money forwards
Mohamed Salah bid an emotional farewell to Anfield, as he departs with a stellar record of 193 goals in 328 Premier League appearances, while averaging a goal contribution every 1.14 games.
Undoubtedly a legacy nigh impossible to replicate, the attacking burden now surely falls on Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz.
In an injury-strewn campaign, Isak looked a shadow of the goal machine he was for Newcastle, earning him a record-breaking move to Merseyside, but the lack of service from his teammates is truly alarming.
Wirtz has endured a dismal first campaign at Anfield, failing to impress the Kop on far too many occasions this season, but he, too, lacked the environment that would have allowed him to thrive.
Following an Achilles injury, top goalscorer Hugo Ekitike looks set for a lengthy period on the sidelines, and Liverpool will hope the Frenchman will provide healthy competition for Isak once fit, at a minimum.
Wingers key in rebuilding attacking identity
Under Slot, the Reds lacked pace on either flank and it is widely accepted that acquiring at least two forwards ought to resolve that issue.
A key facet of Iraola’s playstyle is high pressing, and while this does not suit the likes of Isak and Wirtz, the press could be deployed effectively by Liverpool’s wingers.
The Reds have been linked with RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, who is comfortable playing on either side and will provide the pace and directness that was absent during their title defence.
Another option is the two-time Champions League winner, Bradley Barcola, who has struggled to usurp a place in PSG’s devastating front three.
Wirtz will be a huge beneficiary from having pace on both sides, as will Isak, who will undoubtedly relish the service they will provide, alongside the German.
For years on end, the looming question was who would replace Salah, but Richard Hughes’ transfer activity indicates the answer is multi-faceted.
With Federico Chiesa likely to depart in search of game time, big changes are afoot further forward, but for Iraola, the solution is straightforward.
Stabilising midfield imperative for Iraola’s Liverpool
When the eye-catching Wirtz arrived at Anfield with a £116 million price tag, it seemed inevitable that something would have to give in Liverpool’s midfield.
Instead, in the centre of the pitch, the former Premier League champions looked toothless, unable to move the ball forward and constantly vulnerable in transition.
Ryan Gravenberch was unable to replicate his form from last season, and to label Alexis Mac Allister’s season as a fall from grace is very generous.
Dominik Szoboszlai, Liverpool’s Player of the Season, showcased his worth and will undoubtedly play a big part in Iraola’s midfield plans, while the future of Mac Allister looks uncertain.
Homegrown talent Curtis Jones, is another player whose contract situation could prove costly for the Reds, with just a year left and having already fallen out of favour with Arne Slot before his departure.
While Gravenberch as the holding midfielder may have worked in the past, it is clearly not his favoured position, and Liverpool will have to resolve that in the transfer window.
Change expected in centre of the pitch
If the Merseyside outfit is not willing to extend the remaining two years on Mac Allister’s contract, they should look to sell, with Real Madrid reportedly keen on the midfielder.
A possible replacement could be Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni, who would certainly possess the physical presence and tenacity that the Reds wanted when they attempted to sign him in 2022.
Should Jones decide to leave his boyhood club, Iraola may look closer to home in Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, who looks destined to play at an elite level.
From a tactical standpoint, Liverpool’s new head coach should be familiar with their current setup, a 4-2-3-1 that he so often relied on during his success on the south coast.
The last dance for Liverpool’s stalwarts
With Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker entering the final year of their contracts, it would be a surprise to see both in a Liverpool shirt this time next year.
Hughes will hope he has done enough to convince Alisson to stay one more year, with Juventus vying for his signature.
Club captain van Dijk will go into next season without his partner Ibrahima Konate, who somewhat unexpectedly departed on a free transfer.
While Konate endured a season of ups and downs, his exit signifies a systemic oversight on senior players being able to see out the final year of their contract with little to no resistance from the club.
Only van Dijk, Alisson and Joe Gomez remain from the Liverpool side that lifted their sixth Champions League trophy at the Wanda Metropolitano in 2019, and they will look to impart their wisdom before each of them departs.
Reds to place trust in Leoni and Jacquet
Giovanni Leoni arrived as one of Liverpool's lower-profile signings during their spending bonanza last summer, but was unable to leave an impression following an ACL injury on his debut.
The Italian centre back has since been working hard on his rehabilitation and looks set to be fully fit in time for pre-season.
Another imminent arrival is Rennes’ Jeremy Jacquet, for a total of £60 million in a defensive rebuild of sorts.
As it stands, Liverpool are not actively seeking a replacement for Konate, instead trusting their two young centre backs to partner van Dijk and provide competition for Gomez.
Iraola has a proven track record for developing young players, and those at Anfield will be hoping the Spaniard will work his magic ahead of a vital season.
World Cup a roadblock for transfer activity
Clubs will be scrambling to ensure that a large portion of their transfer business is completed before the World Cup starts in just a few days.
Liverpool were the biggest spenders in the transfer window last summer, but such is the nature of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), the club have to sell before they can buy.
This places Iraola’s squad in a precarious position, with the comings and goings still largely unknown, but many believe there is enough talent for him to build on.
Whether the Reds can cope with the physical demands of their head coach with the backdrop of playing twice a week is likely to dominate the narrative around Liverpool after the World Cup.
But for the first time in many months, Liverpool fans will be glad to admit that they finally have something to look forward to.
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