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Arne Slot says Liverpool being the favorite to win the Premier League title is not unusual after Virgil van Dijk lifted the trophy last season — but he has insisted that any judgments should not be based on the money the Reds have spent during the summer.
Liverpool has already spent big on the likes of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen ($155 million/£116 million) and Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt ($106 million/£79 million). But the Reds could yet splash more cash in the market if Alexander Isak becomes available or a suitable center-back target emerges.
However, it should also be noted that Liverpool has raised almost $200 million (£150 million) in player sales. More departures are expected — Harvey Elliott, for instance — before the window slams shut on September 1.
"If you won it last season, it's quite normal that you are part of the favorites again for next season," Slot said ahead of facing Crystal Palace in the Community Shield at Wembley this weekend.
"For me, it would not be normal if it's about spending, because the net spend of us compared to the other teams is not in our favor, if you look at the last two seasons.
"But it's completely normal that we are one of the favorites, because we won it last season. And we brought in good players, like all the other ones did, by the way."
Liverpool spent just $13 million (£10 million) in Slot's first summer at the helm. In addition to securing Federico Chiesa, sporting director Richard Hughes also set up a deal for talented goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
This summer so far, Arsenal has spent close to $270 million (£200 million) under Mikel Arteta and has only brought in around $9 million (£7 million) from sales. Likewise, Manchester United will have splashed a similar amount when Benjamin Sesko arrives, with no money yet brought in from outgoings.
"This is the Premier League... this is what makes this league so nice," Slot added. "I think there's only been one exception [who didn’t spend big] in the last two, three, four, five, six years, and that's been Liverpool last season.
"Sunderland is spending money... they have a lot of money, of course, because they're promoted. So that is what happens in the Premier League, that's why it is such a nice league.
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"So if we are only favorites because we've spent a bit, I would see that as weird, because we've lost a lot as well. But that we are favorites because we won it last season and we played so well, that's clear.
"And the ambitions haven't changed. The ambition of this club is always to compete for every trophy.
"So that hasn't changed compared to last season. Not because we lost players, and not because we brought players in. The ambitions are always the same at this club."
Liverpool.com says: For the first time in the Premier League era, the Reds will head into the season as title favorites. That will bring with it some pressure, but it is correct. Manchester City and Arsenal are both playing catch-up.
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