One of the most notable points about Liverpool's success last season was that it came after a summer in which they only added one new signing. That was Federico Chiesa - a player who only played a total of 104 minutes in the Premier League and did not score any goals.
Maintaining a stable squad could be a factor that helped Liverpool achieve impressive form last season. However, this will change this season when the "Red Brigade" adds a series of new faces.
Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike have arrived at Anfield, while goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili officially joined the team after completing the deal since last summer.
Notably, the Wirtz deal - with an initial record fee of £100 million - is considered a turning point deal. The German international, one of the brightest stars in world football at the moment, is a clear testament to Liverpool's great ambitions.
The Kop also saw a series of important departures, including Trent Alexander-Arnold, Caoimhin Kelleher, Luis Diaz, Jarell Quansah and Darwin Nunez.
In particular, the tragic death of Diogo Jota left a big gap in both expertise and spirit. The club has decided to hang the number 20 shirt in memory of the Portuguese striker.
On the other hand, the problem is not just adding depth to the squad. All four of Liverpool's new signings are likely to feature regularly under coach Arne Slot.
Ekitike could have more difficulty breaking into the starting lineup if the target is rumored to be Alexander Isak before the transfer window closes. However, with an investment of more than £69 million for the young French striker, the possibility of him being left behind is very low.
Arne Slot has a lot of experience in strengthening the force. In the summer of 2022, he brought in 15 new players before winning the Dutch national championship with Feyenoord, and continued to add 14 more players in the following season. Changing the large-scale squad is not a new challenge for the Dutch strategist.
Liverpool's new contracts have quickly integrated in the pre-season. Wirtz scored Liverpool's first goal in a 3-1 win over Yokohama F. Marinos, Frimpong assisted in the same match, while Ekitike impressed at Anfield when passing Salah to open the scoring against Athletic Bilbao. Kerkez also won over fans in his debut match at Preston with a brave block-throwing header.
In the Super Cup match against Crystal Palace, where Liverpool lost on penalties, Wirtz assisted Ekitike to open the scoring, before Frimpong scored the second goal, although perhaps it was just a cross that accidentally became a goal.
Can these new recruits elevate a Liverpool squad that dominated the league last season? If the answer is yes, then it is definitely bad news for the rest of the Premier League.
