Chairman outlines transfer strategy ...and why it doesn't guarantee league title

LIVERPOOL chairman Tom Werner has explained why owners Fenway Sports Group sanctioned a record-breaking squad rebuild this summer as he lifted the lid on the pursuit of Alexander Isak.

- By IAN DOYLE

The Reds splashed out a British record £450million this summer on new players, the centrepiece of which was the £125m arrival of Isak from Newcastle United on deadline day at the start of this month.

Isak made his debut in the 3-2 Champions League home win over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, where he was joined by £116m Florian Wirtz and £29m Jeremie Frimpong with £79m Hugo Ekitike and £40m Milos Kerkez coming on as substitutes and £29m Giorgi Mamardashvili and £26m Giovanni Leoni also on the bench.

And while pointing out Liverpool recouped more than half of their outlay through sales, Werner admits previous experience meant the Reds were keen to overhaul their playing staff to give themselves a better chance of retaining the Premier League title this season.

"The fact of the matter is it's going to be very difficult," he said.