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Former Liverpool winger Stewart Downing has warned that spending big money is no guarantee of success— though the Reds have not splashed any more than their rivals in this window.
Quietly, and with less attention on them, Manchester United and Arsenal have been just as bold when it comes to splashing the cash, and Manchester City even more so when including the January figures. Indeed, there are five teams (those three, plus Sunderland and Spurs, according to Transfermarkt) with a higher net outlay than the Reds at this point in the summer.
While Liverpool smashed its transfer record to sign Florian Wirtz and could yet return with another bid for Alexander Isak, it has brought in a lot of money in sales. Harvey Elliott and others could yet add to that total.
"I think that’s just the easy thing to say, isn’t it?" Downing told Best Betting Offers. "Obviously, they've spent a lot of money and because of that, the first thing you think is because of that, they’ve got to win the league.
"They won the league last season without spending anything, though, so it’s not always the case.
"I'm actually glad Liverpool won it the way they did last season, not spending £200-300 million. Arne Slot just came in and carried on with what was happening, didn't he?
"He might have a different way of playing and stuff like that. But he just smoothly went about his job and got a good run.
"But Liverpool are really good. I don't think anyone expected Liverpool to win the league last season.
"There was a bit of stick with the owners from the fans because they’d not signed anybody. But it just shows that sometimes it's not all about spending money."
While Liverpool will not spend money for the sake of it, signing Isak — valued at as much as $200 million (£150 million) by Newcastle — would be transformational for Slot's attack. Hugo Ekitike has already been signed this summer but there is room for both.
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If Federico Chiesa leaves, which is still a possibility, then only Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo will still be at Anfield of the six senior attackers that Liverpool had on its books last season.
Bringing in Isak would shift the number to four: the Swede, Ekitike, Salah and Gakpo. Rio Ngumoha, the 16-year-old winger, is another who could get minutes, but he is only very young and cannot be relied on every week.
Jeremie Frimpong can play further forward and isn't only a right-back, but right now, he will be needed in defense because Conor Bradley is injured. Ben Doak is another option, though he could also move on amid plenty of interest from around the country.
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