SLOT'S REALITY CHECK

Romance is dead in manager's new world

- By Chris McKenna

LIVERPOOL won the title by a big margin last season but Arne Slot saw enough to make him believe they needed change this summer.

Ahead of tomorrow’s visit of Arsenal — the first blockbuster battle in this campaign’s Premier League title race — the Reds’ head coach warned they cannot “romanticise” their glory run last season as if it was a stroll in the park.

Liverpool have drastically changed their squad since they lifted their 20th topflight crown in May. Some of it forced, some of it optional.

They have spent around £300million already, with potentially another £150m to go if Alexander Isak and Marc Guehi arrive before Monday evening’s deadline.

Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni are their outfield recruits.

They have also brought in £227m in player sales, which shows the turnaround.