Thrilling £450m rebuild brings hope and expectation

Isak's record deal completed summer like no other at Anfield

- Ian Doyle

From famine to feast.

But the addictive dopamine hit of signing players meant there were some Liverpool supporters left disappointed when the proposed arrival of Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace collapsed shortly after Monday's deadline.

Regardless, this has been an unprecedented transfer window not just for the Reds but the Premier League as a whole, Arne Slot’s Premier League champions having committed to splashing out £450million on new talent.

It makes the spending splurge headed by sporting director Richard Hughes the highest tally in a single window in English football history, surpassing the previous record amount of £435m set by Chelsea two years ago.

The shimmering centre-piece, of course, is Alexander Isak, Liverpool's patience in waiting for the Sweden international rewarded with Newcastle United finally showing a modicum of commonsense and cashing in on their wantaway prized asset for a British record £125m fee.

Having romped to the Premier League title last season, it is the ultimate in recruiting from a position of strength, an approach that served Liverpool so well during their glory days of the 1970s and 1980s.

And while at first glance very much against the trend long set by fiscally-aware owners Fenway Sports Group, the devil is, as ever, in the detail.

Liverpool could recoup up to £225m from player sales this summer, with £200m of that guaranteed. And in terms of net spend for the window, it puts them behind expected title rivals Arsenal, again highlighting the Reds as chief exponents of the underrated and often overlooked ability of selling players at good prices.