After their impressive 2018/19 season, in which they won the Champions League and achieved a record points total in the league, Liverpool made the decision not to sign anyone this summer, preferring to stick with the squad who performed so well last season.
And, the new 2019/20 season has started off well for the Reds, as they've won their opening two league games and even lifted silverware, beating Chelsea in the UEFA Super Cup final.
However, if Jurgen Klopp's side were going to sign a player, it would probably be a creative midfielder, as they arguably haven't really got that kind of player in their current squad.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has suggested that Leicester City midfielder James Maddison would be an impressive addition to the Reds, if they were looking for that type of player in the future.
And that got us thinking.
How would James Maddison fit into the current Liverpool lineup?
And, would he manage to displace Naby Keita, Jordan Henderson or Gini Wijnaldum?
We used Football Manager 2019 to have a bit of fun and see what would have happened if Liverpool had signed Maddison this summer.
James Maddison - Liverpool
Current Ability: 147/200
Potential Ability: 160/200
Positions: AMC/AML/CM/AMR/ST
But how much difference could Maddison make to Liverpool's performance in the 2019/20 season?
We inputted a £60 million future transfer into Football Manager 2019, added in all the latest transfers, manager changes, promotions and relegations, then simulated the 2019/20 season to see what could happen.
Here's what happened....
James Maddison's 2019/20 season for Liverpool
Here's Maddison's Liverpool season in more detail.
Despite making only 20 league starts, the England midfielder managed to score 12 goals and register six assists, earning an impressive average rating of 7.11.
In all competitions, the 22-year-old managed 18 goals and nine assists, making it a fruitful season, despite making just 31 starts across the season.
Maddison was employed mostly as a central midfielder during his season at Liverpool, but he also played 13 games in attacking midfield, eight on the left wing, three on the right and once as a central striker.
Interestingly, Maddison is only 'competent' in the central midfield role on Football Manager 2019, but Klopp obviously trained him to play in that position over the course of the season.
Liverpool's top scorers in 2019/20
His goal scoring record was very strong, good enough even to draw level with Sadio Mane in the goal scoring charts for the club in 2019/20.
What a debut season, considering he wasn't a starter, proving to be more of a goal scorer, rather than an outright creator.
Liverpool's best XI in 2019/20
Maddison had a great individual season, but he didn't get into Klopp's best XI for 2019/20, with Keita and Henderson preferred.
Liverpool's 2018/19 league position: 2nd
Liverpool's 2019/20 league position: 2nd
Liverpool managed a strong 2nd place finish with Maddison in the side, earning 82 points, losing only six games.
The Reds also scored the most goals of anyone in the league, one more than Man City.
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Champions League performance in 2019/20
Liverpool couldn't match their Champions League success from last season, as they went out to Juventus in the quarter-finals.
Cup competitions performance in 2019/20
Klopp's side also went out in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, losing to Arsenal on Penalites.
Maddison scored in normal time, but missed a penalty in the shootout.
But, they did lift some silverware, as they won the FA Cup, beating Newcastle in the final, with Maddison scoring.
The 22-year-old certainly played a big part in their FA Cup win however, so his impact was felt domestically.
Football Manager 2019 predicts that if Maddison did sign for Liverpool, he could manage the step up to a higher level, and his game would go up a notch in the process.
