Liverpool have been warned they need to sign players this summer or risk falling away in the title-race and following in Tottenham Hotspur's footsteps next season.
That's the view of former Arsenal star and Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson.
Takumi Minamino is the only major signing the Reds have spent money since winning the Champions League last year, with Jurgen Klopp's faith in his squad rewarded after lifting the Premier League, FIFA Club World Cup and European Super Cup this season.
But with Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United set to strengthen this summer, Merson has warned Liverpool they can't afford another quiet summer on the transfer front if they wish to defend the title next season.
However, speaking in his Sky Sports column, he admits Klopp faces a difficult challenge trying to improve his starting XI, believing their success could come at the detriment of the Reds in the long-haul.
"I think Liverpool need to buy, but it's hard to know exactly where," he said. "Spurs had a similar situation under Pochettino a couple years ago; they had such a good XI, that anyone they bought wasn't likely to play much.
"You can't live like that, you have to keep competition and keep rotation.
"There's a fast food chain that sell more burgers or chips than anyone else, but they spend more on advertising than anyone else. You've got to kick on.
"I found that with Spurs, they never really took a chance, and it has come back to bite them."
