The transfer window is closed. Happy with what the Reds have done?
In every transfer window, while I of course look at and appreciate what other teams are doing with their business, I try to not let it impact my judgement of Liverpool’s window.
I’ll be honest, I’ve found that a bit more difficult this year. Even though we’re yet to see Ibrahima Konate in competitive action for Liverpool, I was very happy with his signing as the same risks simply couldn’t be taken again when it came to the centre-back situation that plagued Liverpool’s 2020/21 campaign.
Looking at the bigger picture, however, I can’t help but feel that more movement should’ve been made with regards to both potential incomings and outgoings as well.
For example, Divock Origi will always hold a special place in the hearts of every Liverpool fan for his derby goals and Champions League heroics, but it feels like the only way that the Reds would’ve recruited a forward this year would’ve been by moving on the Belgian and a move has never looked likely at any point over the summer.
It appeared that the asking price for Origi was around £15m-£20m and, when you consider his lack of playing time, you can understand why there has appeared to be little interest in him although he may now see some minutes should Firmino’s injury rule the Brazilian out for a lengthy period.
The forward back-up is also the source of one of my main concerns this season with AFCON having been moved to January meaning the Reds will be without Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane plus Naby Keita from midfield. There has to be a plan to compensate for their absence or it could be a tricky period for Liverpool.
I’m also talking about the squad as a whole because the first-choice XI is good enough to take on anyone and, to use a cliché, you can absolutely put Virgil van Dijk and Harvey Elliott in the category of new signings after injury and return from loan respectively, given the quality they have added to the squad.
As I alluded to earlier, I don’t like to compare Liverpool’s transfer activity to trophy rivals but when you see Manchester City splashing £100m on Jack Grealish, Chelsea spending the best part of that on Romelu Lukaku and Manchester United adding Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and, spectacularly, Cristiano Ronaldo to their ranks, I do think it’s fair to question if Liverpool’s squad depth is strong enough to last the course when it comes to the top prize.
What is a realistic aim for Liverpool this season in terms of the league and silverware?
Liverpool absolutely have one of the top four squads in the division, which may well be stating the obvious for many, but that highlights the minimum requirement in my eyes.
The injuries last season made it an incredible battle that wasn’t anticipated after strolling to the league title in 2019/20 but grabbing that third-placed finish in the final week of the season was a superb achievement.
I think the title will be beyond Liverpool if I’m brutally honest but securing a place in the top four will go a long way to ensuring the club can continue its upward momentum.
In the Champions League, the draw has produced a very tricky group with Spanish Champions Atletico Madrid, Portuguese runners-up Porto and AC Milan, who need no introduction to Liverpool fans.
Saying that, I think you’d still get Liverpool as favourites to secure a minimum of a top-two finish in the group and then it’s over to the luck of the draw from February onwards.
Finally, I would really like to see Liverpool progress in the domestic cups but I also accept that they are firmly down the pecking order when it comes to the club’s priorities in the hunt for silverware.
