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Liverpool hero Dietmar Hamann believes the club has just completed the greatest transfer window in Premier League history - although he is concerned with what he’s seen so far from Arne Slot’s new-look side.
The Reds have undergone a major overhaul following their Premier League title win last season, with big names such as Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving the club permanently, while nine new faces have arrived.
Among them are the record signings of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, the latter of which was signed on deadline day after a long and dramatic saga with Newcastle. The scale of Liverpool’s business though has seen it installed as the favorite to defend its crown this season, having spent around $563 million on new signings.
And the start of the new season couldn’t have gone much better, with the Reds having won each of their first three games, including a 1-0 win over last season’s runner-up and expected title contender Arsenal.
Despite the outlay on signings, Hamann hasn’t been too convinced by what he’s seen so far.
“On paper, Liverpool have had the best transfer window in Premier League history. However, the first three games were underwhelming by their standards,” Hamann told Adventure Gamers.
“If they had only three points from the first three games, they couldn't complain, as they didn’t really deserve to win the first two and were fortunate against Arsenal. Now, with nine points, everyone is happy.
“The new players are fantastic, but the manager needs to integrate them. In the first two and a half games, they didn't look like a team, they looked like individuals. There was no fluency, unlike Arsenal, where players were helping each other.
“When Liverpool had possession, the player with the ball rarely had options. Only the player in possession was moving, but you need players to create space and options. This wasn't the case. It changed slightly in the second half on Sunday. The manager needs to bring the team together and find their team spirit.
“While the transfer window was fantastic on paper, the first two and a half games were not good. Against Arsenal, in the second half, they showed for the first time what they might be capable of this season.”
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Liverpool.com says: Yes, Liverpool hasn't looked all that convincing so far this season, but you can't argue with three league wins out of three - especially when one of those is against your closest title rival.
It will take time for the new signings to find their feet, but it is promising that they're able to get results even if they're not at their best. That says a lot about the sheer quality that is in this side.
The first two games displayed the Reds' attacking capabilities nicely, and the Arsenal game showed how good they can be defensively. Marry those two elements together, and what a season this could be.
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